hackle
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Pluck; "to show HACKLE," to be willing to fight. HACKLES are the long feathers on the back of a cock’s neck, which he erects when angry,—hence the metaphor.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “hackle” mean?
Pluck; "to show HACKLE," to be willing to fight. HACKLES are the long feathers on the back of a cock’s neck, which he erects when angry,—hence the metaphor.
Is “hackle” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.