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Hackle vs Shackle - What's the difference?

hackle | shackle |

As nouns the difference between hackle and shackle

is that hackle is an instrument with steel pins used to comb out flax or hemp while shackle is a restraint fit over a human or animal appendage, such as a wrist, ankle or finger. Usually used in plural, to indicate a pair joined by a chain; a hobble.

As verbs the difference between hackle and shackle

is that hackle is to dress (flax or hemp) with a hackle; to prepare fibres of flax or hemp for spinning while shackle is to restrain using shackles; to place in shackles.

hackle

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An instrument with steel pins used to comb out flax or hemp.
  • (fishing) A feather used to make a fishing lure or a fishing lure incorporating a feather.
  • When the dog got angry his hackles rose and he growled.
  • A plate with rows of pointed needles used to blend or straighten hair.
  • A feather plume on some soldier's uniforms, especially the hat or helmet.
  • Any flimsy substance unspun, such as raw silk.
  • Usage notes

    In everyday speech, primarily used in phrase “to raise one’s hackles'”, meaning “to make one angry”, as in “It raises my ' hackles when you take that condescending tone.”.

    Synonyms

    * (instrument with pins) heckle, hatchel * (sense, plume on some soldier's uniforms) panache, plume

    Verb

    (hackl)
  • To dress (flax or hemp) with a hackle; to prepare fibres of flax or hemp for spinning.
  • * 1891 , Mary Noailles Murfree, In the "Stranger People's" Country , Nebraska 2005, p. 155:
  • Then, with a smile that seemed to have all the freshness of the matutinal hour in it, she bent again to her work of hackling flax.
  • To separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel.
  • (archaic) To tear asunder; to break into pieces.
  • The other divisions of the kingdom being hackled and torn to pieces. — Burke.

    shackle

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A restraint fit over a human or animal appendage, such as a wrist, ankle or finger. Usually used in plural, to indicate a pair joined by a chain; a hobble.
  • A U-shaped piece of metal secured with a pin or bolt across the opening, or a hinged metal loop secured with a quick-release locking pin mechanism.
  • (figuratively, usually in plural) A restraint on one's action, activity, or progress.
  • * South
  • His very will seems to be in bonds and shackles .
  • A fetter-like band worn as an ornament.
  • * Dampier
  • Most of the men and women had all earrings made of gold, and gold shackles about their legs and arms.
  • A link for connecting railroad cars; a drawlink or draglink.
  • stubble
  • (Pegge)

    Hyponyms

    * handcuff / handcuffs * manacle / manacles * fetter

    Derived terms

    * harp shackle

    Verb

    (shackl)
  • To restrain using ; to place in shackles.
  • By extension, to render immobile or incapable; to inhibit the progress or abilities of someone or something.
  • This law would effectively shackle its opposition.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=February 12 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Man Utd 2 - 1 Man City , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Rooney, superbly shackled by City defender Vincent Kompany for so long as Ferguson surprisingly left Dimitar Berbatov on the bench, had previously cut a forlorn and frustrated figure but his natural instincts continue to serve him and United so well.}}

    Antonyms

    *(to restraint using shackles) unshackle, untie *(to inhibit the abilities of) free, liberate, unshackle

    Anagrams

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