Hackle
/ˈhæk.əl/noun
A feather or set of feathers on the neck of a bird, or the raised hair on an animal or person when alarmed.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a Germanic root for a hook or hook-shaped tool, and its modern “raised hackles” sense likely developed from the bristling feathers of birds.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hakulaz
“cloak, covering garment”
Old English
OE
hacel
“a covering or mantle; also a hood or cowl”
Middle English
ME
hakel
“a neck covering or a feather/tuft on a bird”
16th Century
English
hackle
“a comb or carding tool; a bird’s neck feathers”
18th Century
English
hackles
“the raised neck feathers of a bird, then the raised hair of an animal or person”
Modern English
English
hackle
“a feather on the neck of a bird; the hair that rises along the neck when frightened or angry”