/ ˈkækl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ v ] ( of a chicken ) to make a loud unpleasant noise
2.
to laugh in a loud unpleasant way :
[ v ]
They all cackled with delight.
[also v speech ]
■ noun
1.
the loud noise that a hen makes
2.
a loud unpleasant laugh
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : probably from Middle Low German kākelen , partly imitative, reinforced by kāke jaw, cheek.