Hackle

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A comb for dressing flax, raw silk, etc.; a hatchel.

2. Any flimsy substance unspun, as raw silk.

3. 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.

4. An artificial fly for angling, made of feathers.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel.

2. To tear asunder; to break in pieces. The other divisions of the kingdom being hackled and torn to pieces. Burke.