Verboticism: Hackle

'I coughed up $50 for this concert!'

DEFINITION: n. The slow but steady rise of murmurs, coughs or harrumphs in audience. May indicate dissatisfaction, or the presence of a lethally infectious virus. v. To clear one's throat

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Hackle

Created by: NohWoman

Pronunciation: hackle

Sentence: At first there was just a lone hackler in the audience, but like a virus, the hackle spread across the crowd into a symphony of hackling.

Etymology: hack: a short, rasping dry cough + heckle: to harass a public speaker or performer. Works well as a verb and in noun form "hackler", as in the producer of a hackle.

Points: 611