<p><strong>Noun:</strong></p><ul><li>one of the long, slender feathers on the neck or saddle of certain birds, as the domestic rooster, much used in making artificial flies for anglers.</li><li>the neck plumage of a male bird, as the domestic rooster.</li><li>hackles, the erectile hair on the back of an animal's neck: At the sound of footsteps, the dog raised her hackles.</li><li>anger, especially when aroused in a challenging or challenged manner: with one's hackles up.</li><li>Angling. the legs of an artificial fly made with feathers from the neck or saddle of a rooster or other such bird.</li><li>a comb for dressing flax or hemp.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb:</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object), hackled, hackling. Angling. to equip with a hackle.</li><li>to comb, as flax or hemp.</li></ul>