hatchel

Alternative forms

 * hackle
 * heckle
 * hetchel

Etymology
From, of origin, related to the root of. Compare.

Noun

 * 1) A comb used to separate flax fibers.
 * 2) * 1864, George Ripley and Charles Anderson Dana [eds.], The New American Cyclopædia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge VII: “Edward–Fueros” (New York: D. Appleton and Company, 443 & 445 Broadway; London: 16 Little Britain), ‘Flax’, page 554
 * One end of the bundle being hatchelled, it is turned round, and the other is treated in the same way; and the process is repeated on finer hatchels.

Verb

 * 1)  To separate (flax fibers) with a hatchel, or comb.