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.

A fly material (feather) from the neck of a chicken. Imagine...there are chicken farmers around the world focused on raising birds solely for our wacky habits. You gotta love it

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.

comb with a heckle; "heckle hemp or flax"