Hatch·el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hatcheled or Hatchelled p. pr. & vb. n. Hatcheling or Hatchelling.]
1. To draw through the teeth of a hatchel, as flax or hemp, so as to separate the coarse and refuse parts from the fine, fibrous parts.
2. To tease; to worry; to torment. [Colloq.]
◄ ►
hatchel
n : a comb for separating flax fibers [syn: heckle]
v : comb with a heckle; "heckle hemp or flax" [syn: heckle, hackle]
[also: hatchelling, hatchelled]