heckle

heckle (ˈhɛk^əl)

—vb
1.	to interrupt (a public speaker, performer, etc) by comments, questions, or taunts
2.	(tr) hackle, Also: hatchel to comb (hemp or flax)

—n
3.	an instrument for combing flax or hemp

[C15: Northern and East Anglian form of hackle]

'heckler

—n

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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

heckle

"to question severely in a bid to find weaknesses," 1788, transferred usage of hekelen "to comb (flax or hemp) with a heckle," from M.E. hekele "a comb for flax or hemp" (early 14c.), from M.Du. hekelen, the original sense of which was "to prickle, irritate," from P.Gmc. *khakilo- (related to hackle).

"Long applied in Scotland to the public questioning of parliamentary candidates" [OED].

Example sentences

Some rough-looking white people had started coming to the store to heckle the protesters.

Volunteers needed to heckle traffic safety violators.

His ears were sensitive too, perhaps overly so: he could hear a heckle from the back of the bleachers.

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Related Words

bait

hiss

Matching Quote

"As debate is rare in the House of Representatives, since nearly all real business is done in the committees, it is very natural that such debate as there is should be very oratorical, should be "sounding off," not discussion. And this is one of the reasons why public speaking in America is still so rhetorical, why audiences for example do not often "heckle" a speaker, bombard him with questions, or embarrass him with ironical applause or laughter. It is almost as rare to interrupt a political speech as it is to interrupt a sermon. In the Senate, things are different. Any senator who can get the floor can talk as long as his wind lasts. He cannot be out of order unless he takes the most extravagant liberties. So Senate debates are often lively, often educational. They are very different from the formal pieces declaimed in the other house, or even printed and sent to the voters without being spoken at all. A senator has to persuade his colleagues, even those of his own party, or he has to intimidate them, and so the Senate has a high representation of public speakers who can discuss as well as declaim."

-D.W. Brogan