The flying feathery or hairy crown of seeds or achenes, such as the down of the thistle.
A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress, or anything imitating such an ornament.
Any of various wading birds of the genera Egretta or Ardea that includes herons, many of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season.
A feather used to make a fishing lure or a fishing lure incorporating a feather.
By extension (because the hackles of a rooster are lifted when it is angry), the hair on the nape of the neck in dogs and other animals; also used figuratively for humans.
Any flimsy substance unspun, such as raw silk.
A feather plume on some soldier's uniforms, especially the hat or helmet.
A type of jagged crack extending inwards from the broken surface of a fractured material.
An instrument with steel pins used to comb out flax or hemp.
A plate with rows of pointed needles used to blend or straighten hair.
One of the long, narrow feathers on the neck of birds, most noticeable on the rooster.
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 dress (flax or hemp) with a hackle; to prepare fibres of flax or hemp for spinning.