Heckle Definition

hĕkəl

heckled, heckles, heckling

verb

heckled, heckles, heckling

Webster's New World

To annoy or harass (a speaker) by interrupting with questions or taunts.

Webster's New World

To comb (flax or hemp) with a hatchel.

American Heritage

To question harshly in an attempt to find or reveal weaknesses. [from later 18th c.]

Wiktionary

To insult, tease, make fun of or badger.

Promise that you won't heckle me after my performance.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Origin of Heckle

Transferred usage of hekelen (to comb flax or hemp with a heckle), from Middle English hekele (a comb for flax or hemp), from Middle Dutch hekelen (to prickle, irritate), from Proto-Germanic *hakilōną (related to hackle)

From Wiktionary
Middle English hekelen to comb with a hatchel from hekel hatchel from Middle Dutch keg- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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