heckle
1
9.9
A comb with sharp teeth that separates flax or hemp fibers before spinning
- noun
- /ˈhɛkəl/
- Archaic
:
peine de lino
Synonyms
9.9
A wooden tool with comb like teeth that pulls and separates flax fibers before spinning
is the general comb used to separate fibers rather than describing the pulling action
Surface Forms
Etymology
Heckle began as the name of a special comb used to separate the long fibers of flax or hemp, pulling them apart and making them ready for spinning; the noun still means that comb today.