Heckle

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Heckle

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

verb and noun

Pronunciation

HEK-ul  /ˈhɛk(ə)l/

Definition

As a verb: to interrupt and harass a public speaker, performer, or politician with hostile questions, jeers, or derisive comments; historically, to comb flax or hemp with a heckle (a comb with metal teeth). As a noun: a hostile question or interruption from an audience; the comb used to dress flax.

Plain meaning

To heckle is to disrupt a speaker by shouting hostile comments, questions, or insults from the audience. Hecklers interrupt political speeches, comedy shows, and public performances. The word originally meant to comb flax — the transition to interrupting speakers is one of English's more surprising etymological journeys.

Register

Neutral to informal. Heckle and heckler are standard journalism and political commentary vocabulary. In comedy, heckling is a recognised phenomenon with its own culture and ethics. The textile sense is largely historical and technical.