a comb for dressing flax, raw silk, etc.; a hatchel.-any flimsy substance unspun, as raw silk.-one of the peculiar, long, narrow feathers on the neck of fowls, most noticeable on the cock, -- often used in making artificial flies; hence, any feather so used.-an artificial fly for angling, made of feathers.-to separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel.-to tear asunder; to break in pieces.