vt to tear asunder; to break in pieces.
2. hackle ·noun any flimsy substance unspun, as raw silk.
3. hackle ·noun an artificial fly for angling, made of feathers.
4. hackle ·noun a comb for dressing flax, raw silk, ·etc.; a hatchel.
5. hackle ·vt to separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel.
6. hackle ·noun one of the peculiar, long, narrow feathers on the neck of fowls, most noticeable on the cock, often used in making artificial flies; hence, any feather so used.