Definitions for "hackle"
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.
An artificial fly for angling, made of feathers.
Any soft-stemmed neck feather with non-adhering barbules. Typically used to refer to hen or rooster chicken feathers. Tied to represent the legs of an insect.
Keywords:  flax, hatchel, comb, unspun, heckle
A comb for dressing flax, raw silk, etc.; a hatchel.
Any flimsy substance unspun, as raw silk.
To separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel.
Keywords:  halyards, rigging, tools
Tools , Rigging Halyards Rigging
Keywords:  asunder, tear, break, pieces
To tear asunder; to break in pieces.