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cackle definition

cackle (kak′əl)

intransitive verb cackled -·led, cackling -·ling

  1. to make the shrill, broken vocal sounds of a hen
  2. to laugh or chatter with similar sounds

Etymology: ME cakelen; akin to Du kokkelen, LowG kakkeln < IE base *kak-: of echoic orig.

transitive verb

to utter in a cackling manner

noun

  1. the act or sound of cackling
  2. cackling laughter
  3. idle or silly chatter
cackle Idioms

cut the cackle

Brit., Informal to stop talking and settle down to serious efforts

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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