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cack·le

(kăkəl)

v. cack·led, cack·ling, cack·les

v.intr.

1. To make the shrill cry characteristic of a hen after laying an egg.

2. To laugh or talk in a shrill manner.

v.tr.

To utter in cackles: cackled a sarcastic reply.

1. The act or sound of cackling.

2. Shrill laughter.

3. Foolish chatter.

[Middle English cakelen, probably from Middle Low German kākeln, of imitative origin.]

cackler n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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