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Tackle vs Hackle - What's the difference?

tackle | hackle |

As nouns the difference between tackle and hackle

is that tackle is a system of ropes and blocks used to increase the force applied to the free end of the rope while hackle is an instrument with steel pins used to comb out flax or hemp.

As verbs the difference between tackle and hackle

is that tackle is to face or deal with attempting to overcome or fight down while hackle is to dress (flax or hemp) with a hackle; to prepare fibres of flax or hemp for spinning.

tackle

English

Noun

  • (nautical) A system of ropes and blocks used to increase the force applied to the free end of the rope.
  • (fishing, uncountable) Equipment (rod, reel, line, lure, etc.) used when angling.
  • (uncountable, informal) By extension, any piece of equipment, particularly gadgetry.
  • * 2004 June 24–30, "Jeff Gordon Never Gets Tired Of Seeing Face On Cheap Plastic Crap", '', available in ''Embedded in America , ISBN 1400054567, page 193,
    • ... an illuminated license-plate frame bearing his likeness, signature, and yellow number 24. "That there's a real nice piece of tackle . ..."
  • (sports, countable) A play where a player attempts to take control over the ball from an opponent, as in rugby or football.
  • (American football, countable) A play where a defender brings the ball carrier to the ground.
  • (countable) Any instance in which one person forces another to the ground.
  • (American football, uncountable) The offensive positions between each guard and end, offensive tackle.
  • (American football, countable) A person playing that position.
  • (American football, uncountable) The defensive positions between two ends, defensive tackle.
  • (American football, countable) A person playing that position.
  • (slang) A man's genitalia.

    • Derived terms

    * grapple tackle * spear tackle

    Verb

  • to face or deal with attempting to overcome or fight down
    • The government's measures to tackle crime were insufficient.
  • (sports) to attempt to take away a ball
  • (American football) to bring a ball carrier to the ground

    • 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.