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 hamstring; to hock; to hough; to disable by cutting the tendons of the ham.
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, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• “hockle” in An American Dictionary of the English Language, by Noah Webster, 1828.