■ verb
1》 (of a hen or goose) give a raucous clucking cry.
↘laugh in a loud, harsh way.
2》 talk inconsequentially and at length.
■ noun a cackling sound.
Phrases
cut the ~ informal stop talking aimlessly and come to the point.
Origin
ME: prob. from Mid. Low Ger. kākelen , partly imitative, reinforced by kāke 'jaw, cheek'.