cackle C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes Also spelled cacklin US /ˈkækəl/ UK /ˈkækəl/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to laugh or cluck in a harsh, broken way The old woman gave a wicked cackle at the news. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to laugh or cluck in a... cluckchucklegigglesnickerchortlesquawkgabble Word family Derived forms cacklercackling Etymology AI details From Middle English cakelen, of imitative origin, echoing the broken clucking cry of a hen; compare Middle Dutch kake len. Topics Actions & Processes External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # cackle **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ˈkækəl/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈkækəl/ ## Meanings 1. to laugh or cluck in a harsh, broken way ## Examples - The old woman gave a wicked cackle at the news. ## Synonyms - cluck - chuckle - giggle - snicker - chortle - squawk - gabble ## Derived Forms - cackler - cackling ## Etymology From Middle English cakelen, of imitative origin, echoing the broken clucking cry of a hen; compare Middle Dutch kake len. ## AI Etymology Cackle comes from Middle English cakelen, of imitative origin, echoing the broken clucking cry of a hen; compare Middle Dutch kake len. Its formation is sound-symbolic rather than a regular transparent compound, with the older form echoing the sound named in the history. Used as a verb and noun, cackle now means "laugh or cluck in a harsh, broken way", so the present definition can be read against the older forms and meanings. The same lexical family is also visible in derived forms such as cackler and cackling. The result is a borrowed or transmitted form whose modern spelling carries a compact record of its route into English. ## Topics - Actions & Processes markdown