Hatchel \Hatch"el\ (-[e^]l; 277), n. [OE. hechele, hekele; akin to D. hekel, G. hechel, Dan. hegle, Sw. h["a]kla, and prob. to E. hook. See {Hook}, and cf. {Hackle}, {Heckle}.] An instrument with long iron teeth set in a board, for cleansing flax or hemp from the tow, hards, or coarse part; a kind of large comb; -- called also {hackle} and {heckle}.
Hatchel \Hatch"el\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hatcheled} or {Hatchelled} (-[e^]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Hatcheling} or {Hatchelling}.] [OE. hechelen, hekelen; akin to D. hekelen, G. hecheln, Dan. hegle, Sw. h["a]kla. See {Hatchel}, n.] 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.