Cackle vs. Hackle — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 27, 2024
Cackle refers to a loud, harsh laugh, often conveying amusement or hysteria, while hackle denotes the feathers on a bird's neck or irritation indicated by raised hairs.
Difference Between Cackle and Hackle
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Key Differences
Cackle typically describes a specific type of laughter characterized by its loud and harsh sound, which often suggests amusement or hysteria. On the other hand, hackle can refer to the long, slender feathers found on the neck of certain birds, such as roosters or turkeys. In a non-literal context, cackle is used to denote laughter that may be considered annoying or inappropriate due to its tone and pitch, whereas hackle is also used metaphorically to describe the reaction of humans or animals when agitated or threatened, as in "raising one's hackles."
When people cackle, it is usually in response to something they find extremely funny or absurd, and this laughter can be infectious or jarring depending on the situation. In contrast, the term hackle is used in expressions like "raising one's hackles," which indicates a defensive, instinctive reaction to anger or fear. The use of cackle is primarily social and communicative, signaling reactions in group settings, while the concept of hackles rising is a personal, often involuntary response to a perceived threat.
The term cackle is rooted in the Middle English word "cakelen," possibly imitative of the sound itself. Meanwhile, hackle derives from the Old English "haca," meaning "hook," referring originally to the shape of certain bird feathers. These etymological origins highlight how both terms have evolved to convey broader, often metaphorical meanings in contemporary usage.
In literature and popular media, a character's cackle can quickly establish their personality traits, such as wickedness or eccentricity, as commonly seen with characters like witches or mad scientists. Conversely, describing a character with hackles raised typically serves to underscore their readiness to confront or their sensitivity to threats, emphasizing primal instincts over intellectual responses.
Cackle and hackle also appear in colloquial expressions that underline their metaphorical implications. Phrases like "her laughter was a cackle" evoke imagery of witch-like, unsettling laughter, while "his hackles rose" vividly suggests animalistic defense mechanisms, underscoring the contrast between human emotional expressions and animalistic survival instincts.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A loud, harsh laugh
Feathers on the neck of birds or irritation indicated by raised hairs
Usage
Describes a type of laughter
Describes physical features or emotional state
Metaphorical meaning
Conveys annoyance or inappropriate laughter
Indicates agitation or defensiveness
Common contexts
Social interactions, humor
Animal behavior, tense situations
Etymology
From Middle English "cakelen"
From Old English "haca" meaning "hook"
Compare with Definitions
Cackle
An expression of amusement or derision.
His story was met with a cackle from the audience.
Hackle
A type of steel comb used in flax preparation.
She used a hackle to card the wool finely.
Cackle
To laugh in a loud, high-pitched way.
She cackled at the comedian's joke, louder than anyone else.
Hackle
To irritate or provoke to anger.
The unfair decision hackled him beyond patience.
Cackle
A noise resembling raucous laughter.
The cackle of hyenas in the distance was unsettling.
Hackle
A person’s state of irritation or anger, as indicated by body language.
His hackles rose when he was falsely accused.
Cackle
To make a sound as if laughing unpleasantly.
The old engine cackled and sputtered before starting.
Hackle
Raised state of alert or readiness.
The dog's hackles raised, sensing the approaching stranger.
Cackle
A loud, raucous laugh.
Her cackle filled the room, drawing attention from all corners.
Hackle
The neck feathers of a bird.
The rooster's bright red hackles were bristled in the morning cold.
Cackle
To make the shrill cry characteristic of a hen after laying an egg.
Hackle
The hackle is a clipped feather plume that is attached to a military headdress. In the British Army and the armies of some Commonwealth countries, the hackle is worn by some infantry regiments, especially those designated as fusilier regiments and those with Scottish and Northern Irish origins.
Cackle
To laugh or talk in a shrill manner.
Hackle
Any of the long, slender, often glossy feathers on the neck of a bird, especially a male fowl.
Cackle
To utter in cackles
Cackled a sarcastic reply.
Hackle
Hackles The erectile hairs along the back of the neck of an animal, especially of a dog.
Cackle
The act or sound of cackling.
Hackle
A feather, usually from the neck of a chicken, used in trimming a fishing fly.
Cackle
Shrill laughter.
Hackle
To trim (an artificial fishing fly) with a hackle.
Cackle
Foolish chatter.
Hackle
To chop roughly; mangle by hacking.
Cackle
The cry of a hen or goose, especially when laying an egg.
Hackle
To hack.
Cackle
A laugh resembling the cry of a hen or goose.
Hackle
An instrument with steel pins used to comb out flax or hemp.
Cackle
Futile or excessively noisy talk.
Hackle
One of the long, narrow feathers on the neck of birds, most noticeable on the rooster.
Cackle
A group of hyenas.
Hackle
(fishing) A feather used to make a fishing lure or a fishing lure incorporating a feather.
Cackle
(intransitive) To make a sharp, broken noise or cry, as a hen or goose does.
Hackle
By extension (because the hackles of a rooster are lifted when it is angry), the hair on the nape of the neck in dogs and other animals; also used figuratively for humans.
When the dog got angry, his hackles rose and he growled.
Cackle
(intransitive) To laugh with a broken sound similar to a hen's cry.
The witch cackled evilly.
Hackle
A type of jagged crack extending inwards from the broken surface of a fractured material.
Cackle
(intransitive) To talk in a silly manner; to prattle.
Hackle
A plate with rows of pointed needles used to blend or straighten hair.
Cackle
To pretend to rattle (dice) in one's hand while gripping them so that they maintain their orientation.
Hackle
A feather plume on some soldier's uniforms, especially the hat or helmet.
Cackle
To make a sharp, broken noise or cry, as a hen or goose does.
When every goose is cackling.
Hackle
Any flimsy substance unspun, such as raw silk.
Cackle
To laugh with a broken noise, like the cackling of a hen or a goose; to giggle.
Hackle
To dress (flax or hemp) with a hackle; to prepare fibres of flax or hemp for spinning.
Cackle
To talk in a silly manner; to prattle.
Hackle
(transitive) To separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel.
Cackle
The sharp broken noise made by a goose or by a hen that has laid an egg.
By her cackle saved the state.
Hackle
To tear asunder; to break into pieces.
Cackle
Idle talk; silly prattle.
There is a buzz and cackle all around regarding the sermon.
Hackle
A comb for dressing flax, raw silk, etc.; a hatchel.
Cackle
The sound made by a hen after laying an egg
Hackle
Any flimsy substance unspun, as raw silk.
Cackle
Noisy talk
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.
Cackle
A loud laugh suggestive of a hen's cackle
Hackle
An artificial fly for angling, made of feathers.
Cackle
Talk or utter in a cackling manner;
The women cackled when they saw the movie star step out of the limousine
Hackle
To separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel.
Cackle
Squawk shrilly and loudly, characteristic of hens
Hackle
To tear asunder; to break in pieces.
The other divisions of the kingdom being hackled and torn to pieces.
Cackle
Emit a loud, unpleasant kind of laughing
Hackle
Long slender feather on the necks of e.g. turkeys and pheasants
Hackle
Comb with a heckle;
Heckle hemp or flax
Common Curiosities
What does cackle mean in a social context?
In social contexts, cackle refers to loud, harsh laughter often seen as disruptive or excessive.
How is the term hackle used metaphorically?
Metaphorically, hackle refers to the instinctual reaction of animals or humans to raise their body hairs in anger or fear, used in phrases like “raising one’s hackles.”
Are cackle and hackle interchangeable in any context?
No, cackle and hackle are not interchangeable as they refer to distinctly different concepts—laughter and either bird feathers or a state of irritation.
Is cackle used only to describe human laughter?
Primarily, yes, though it can also metaphorically describe any similar sounding noise, like animal calls.
Can hackle be used in a non-animal context?
Yes, in a metaphorical sense, referring to a person’s angry or defensive reaction.
What kind of laughter does cackle describe?
Cackle describes a loud, harsh, and often high-pitched laughter.
What are hackles on a bird?
Hackles are the long, slender feathers found on the neck of birds, especially prominent in species like roosters.
Can cackle have a negative connotation?
Yes, cackle often carries a negative connotation, implying that the laughter is inappropriate or annoying.
What does it mean when someone's hackles rise?
When someone's hackles rise, it means they are emotionally stirred up, often feeling defensive or threatened.
How does the etymology of cackle and hackle reflect their current meanings?
Cackle, possibly imitative of the sound, relates to a type of sound or laughter, while hackle, from "hook," originally referred to the shape of feathers, expanding to describe reactions related to defense or irritation.
How does cackle function in character development in stories?
Cackle can signify traits such as wickedness or insanity, helping to define character personalities in narratives.
How does the sound of a cackle differ from regular laughter?
A cackle is typically louder, harsher, and more piercing than regular laughter.
What can provoke a cackle in a group setting?
Jokes, surprising or absurd situations, and sometimes discomfort or nervousness can provoke a cackle.
Does the expression of hackle have a physiological basis in humans?
Yes, similar to animals, humans can experience piloerection (hair standing on end) in response to cold or fear, metaphorically described as hackles rising.
What is the significance of hackles in bird behavior?
In birds, hackles are often raised during displays of aggression or courtship, signaling various behavioral cues to other birds.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
