cackle

American  

[kak-uhl] / ˈkæk əl /

verb (used without object)

cackled, cackling

1. to utter a shrill, broken sound or cry, as of a hen.

2. to laugh in a shrill, broken manner.

3. to chatter noisily; prattle.

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verb (used with object)

cackled, cackling

1. to utter with cackles; express by cackling.

   They cackled their disapproval.

noun

1. the act or sound of cackling.

2. chatter; idle talk.

cackle British  

/ ˈkækəl /

verb

1. (intr) (esp of a hen) to squawk with shrill notes

2. (intr) to laugh or chatter raucously

3. (tr) to utter in a cackling manner

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noun

1. the noise or act of cackling

2. noisy chatter

3. informal to stop chattering; be quiet

Other Word Forms

• cackler noun

Etymology

Origin of cackle

1175–1225; Middle English cakelen; cognate with Dutch kakelen, Low German kakeln, Swedish kackla

Example Sentences

"And so indeed, I must beg his pardon," she cackled.

From Literature

Then came a cackling laugh from behind him.

From Literature

I can practically hear those two cackling over their macchiatos.

From The Wall Street Journal

We sat back, and he took a bite of plantain and blew steam out of his mouth, cackling heartily.

From Literature

She grabs her head and pulls at her hair as she cackles.

From Literature

Related Words

• giggle
• guffaw
• laugh