v.
- (of a hen or goose) give a raucous clucking cry.
▸laugh in a loud, harsh way.
- talk inconsequentially and at length.
n.
a cackling sound.
Phrase
- cut the cackle
informal stop talking aimlessly and come to the point.
Etymology
ME: prob. from Mid. Low Ger. kākelen, partly imitative, reinforced by kāke ‘jaw, cheek’.