hen-cackle

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A shrill, loud, or raucous laughter or chatter, typically associated with women.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Doubtless there is a wider application of the term since a mere hen-cackle, a trifle, seems to have been the origin of the application.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “hen-cackle” mean?

A shrill, loud, or raucous laughter or chatter, typically associated with women.

Is “hen-cackle” formal or informal?

hen-cackle is generally slang.