heckle

The story

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*hakilōną
2. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*hakilōn
3. Middle Dutch · derived fromhekelen“to prickle, irritate”
4. Middle English · derived fromhekelen“to comb flax or hemp with a heckle”
5. English todayheckle

Transferred usage of Middle English hekelen (“to comb flax or hemp with a heckle”), from hekele (“a comb for flax or hemp”), from Middle Dutch hekelen (“to prickle, irritate”), from Proto-West Germanic *hakilōn, from Proto-Germanic *hakilōną, related to *hakô (“hook”). Doublet of hatchel. Related to hackle.

First known use, by meaning

• from later 18th c. To question harshly in an attempt to find or reveal weaknesses.