heckle

[hek-uhl]

verb (used with object)

heckled, heckling 

1. to harass (a public speaker, performer, etc.) with impertinent questions, gibes, or the like; badger.

   Synonyms: hound, hector, needle, provoke, bait

2. hackle.

noun

1. hackle.

heckle

/ ˈhɛkəl /

verb

1. to interrupt (a public speaker, performer, etc) by comments, questions, or taunts

2. Also: hackle.  hatchel. (tr) to comb (hemp or flax)

noun

1. an instrument for combing flax or hemp

Other Word Forms

• heckler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heckle¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English hekelen, variant of hechelen “to comb flax”; akin to hackle ¹, hatchel

Word History and Origins

Origin of heckle¹

C15: Northern and East Anglian form of _hackle

Example Sentences

On Monday, that anger reached Northern California, where Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., was jeered and heckled at two forums in Chico and Red Bluff, reportedly his first in-person town halls in nearly 8 years.

From Salon

Conservative councillors were heckled with shouts of "shame" during a council debate on asylum housing.

From BBC

The World War II veterans heckled them: “Why don’t you go to Hanoi?”

From Salon

"Why should it? For doing my job?" she retorts, her heckles immediately raised at any suggestion of a conflict of interest.

From BBC

And as she arrived at the building, his side heckled her by shouting: "Why are you lying on that boy?"

From BBC

Related Words

• badger 
• bully 
• embarrass 
• hound 
• interrupt 
• pester 
• rattle 
• ridicule 
• taunt 
• tease