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
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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