hackles
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
hackle/ˈhak(ə)l/
▶noun
- 1 (hackles) erectile hairs along an animal's back, which rise when it is angry or alarmed.
- 2 a long, narrow feather on the neck or saddle of a domestic cock or other bird.
- 3 Fishing a feather wound around a fishing fly so that its filaments are splayed out.
- 4 a bunch of feathers in a military headdress.
- 5 a steel comb for dressing flax.
– phrases
make someone's hackles rise make someone angry or indignant.
make someone's hackles rise make someone angry or indignant.
– origin ME: var. of obs. hatchel, of W. Gmc origin.
'hackles' also found in these Oxford entries:
