H

n. 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.

 - vb. 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.