heckle English · revision 2440

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhɛkəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|hekelen|t=to comb flax or hemp]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''hekele'' “a comb for flax”, a form of [[hackle]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) [[bor|dum|hekelen|t=to comb flax; to prickle, irritate]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD) It is related to [[hook]].^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To comb flax or hemp with a heckle, splitting and straightening the fibres (early 14th century).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense, to question someone severely so as to expose their weaknesses, appears in the late 18th or early 19th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary) presumably from the image of rough handling.^(Etymonline) It was long used in Scotland for the public questioning of parliamentary candidates.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) It now usually means interrupting a speaker or performer with gibes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) ''Heckler'' in this sense is recorded from 1885, though it had meant a flax-dresser since 1440.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1325 – to comb flax or hemp.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1425 – noun, a flax comb.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1808 – to question severely, as with parliamentary candidates in Scotland.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1825 – first date given by Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1885 – ''heckler'', one who heckles.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To harass a speaker or performer with questions, interruptions or gibes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To comb flax or hemp with a hackle.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A comb for flax; a hackle.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[heckler]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hackle]]

+ * [[hatchel]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''bait'', ''provoke'', ''needle'', ''hector'' and ''hound'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}