cackle

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled cacklin

US /ˈkækəl/ UK /ˈkækəl/ See IPA manual

verb noun

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... cluck chuckle giggle snicker chortle squawk gabble

Word family

Derived forms cacklercackling

Etymology

From Middle English cakelen, of imitative origin, echoing the broken clucking cry of a hen; compare Middle Dutch kake len.

Topics

Actions & Processes

# cackle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**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

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cackle

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