The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hackling
Hackle \Hac"kle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hackled (h[a^]k"k'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Hackling (h[a^]k"kl[i^]ng).]
To separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel.
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To tear asunder; to break in pieces.
The other divisions of the kingdom being hackled and torn to pieces.
--Burke.
Wiktionary
hackling
vb. (present participle of hackle English)
Usage examples of "hackling".
Before they surmounted the lip of the dingle, a tocsin sounded behind them, hackling the hairs on Pooka's back.
Because may be when they came she'd be hackling flax or threshing on the threshing floor, and they'd be ashamed to see her, and she'd laugh, or resent the present.