What is "cackle-bladder"

alt. 1 A bladder containing chicken blood, used by a con man to fake someone's death or injury. 2 (context uncountable English) A method of making the mark think that he is an accessory to murder by faking someone's death in this manner. n. 1 A bladder containing chicken blood, used by a con man to fake someone's death or injury. 2 (context uncountable English) A method of making the mark think that he is an accessory to murder by faking someone's death in this manner.

Cackle-bladder (or cacklebladder) is a means of faking someone's death through the use of a rubber bladder filled with fake blood. Its name is derived from the fact that traditionally chicken blood was used. Cackle-bladders are used particularly in confidence tricks and espionage. As part of a con, a cackle-bladder can be used to fool the mark (person being conned) into believing that one of the con artists has been killed. In espionage, a cackle-bladder can be used as a basis for blackmail. This method has been popularised through the BBC television series Hustle.