hockle

English

Etymology 1

Probably from hackle, a brush once used for fraying flax, and related to heckle (“to tease”).

Noun

hockle (plural hockles)

1. A knob in cordage caused by twisting against the lay.

Verb

hockle (third-person singular simple present hockles, present participle hockling, simple past and past participle hockled)

1. To damage cordage by twisting against the lay.

Etymology 2

From imperfect and past participle hockled; from present participle and verbal noun hockling. From hock.

Verb

hockle (third-person singular simple present hockles, present participle hockling, simple past and past participle hockled)

1. (transitive) to disable by cutting the tendons of the ham.

   Synonyms: hamstring, hock, hough

2. (transitive) To mow, as stubble.

Etymology 3

Probably onomatopoeic.

Noun

hockle (uncountable)

1. (Geordie, vulgar) spit, spittle

Verb

hockle (third-person singular simple present hockles, present participle hocklin, simple past and past participle hockled)

1. (Geordie) To spit.

References

• “hockle”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• Noah Webster (1828), “hockle”, in An American Dictionary of the English Language: […], volume I (A–I), New York, N.Y.: […] S. Converse; printed by Hezekiah Howe […], →OCLC.