■ noun
1》 ( ~s ) erectile hairs along an animal's back, which rise when it is angry or alarmed.
2》 a long, narrow feather on the neck or saddle of a domestic cock or other bird.
3》 Fishing a feather wound around a fishing fly so that its filaments are splayed out.
4》 a bunch of feathers in a military headdress.
5》 a steel comb for dressing flax.
■ verb dress (flax) with a ~.
Phrases
make someone's ~s rise make someone angry or indignant.
Origin
ME: var. of obs. hatchel , of W. Gmc origin.