Heckles or hackles are an apparatus employed in the preparation of animal and vegetable fibres for spinning. It consists of a series of long metallic teeth, through which the material is drawn so as to comb the fibres out straight and fit them for the subsequent operations. The teeth are fixed in a wooden, metallic or synthetic base, in several row... Found on http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/browse/GH.HTM