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

She strode off with a cackle, to claim her spot front and center.

From Literature

Gingersnipes, still cackling, threw her head back with enough force to unbalance her squat body.

From Literature

Yea, there will be a great wave of tweeting surging across the land, along with shouts of joy and cackles of ridicule.

From Salon

Daisy laughed so loud it scared our old hens and they all started cackling.

From Literature

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

From Literature

Related Words

• giggle
• guffaw
• laugh