---
title: hackles — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «hackles» in the school dictionary: The hairs or feathers along the back of the neck of a dog, cat or bird that stand up when it is angry or frightened. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# hackles

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** hairs, bird, hackles, dog, Rude comments, cat · **What happens:** stand up, be, raise, make, rise, mean · **To what, where:** hackles, fox, back, long shiny neck feathers, her · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«hackles» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [hackles in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hackles.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hairs or feathers along the back of the neck of a dog, cat or bird that stand up when it is angry or frightened.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hackles:m1:1
# text = The hairs or feathers along the back of the neck of a dog, cat or bird that stand up when it is angry or frightened.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hairs	hair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	along	along	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
18	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj	_	_
19	stand	stand	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
20	up	up	ADP	RP	_	19	compound:prt	_	_
21	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	24	mark	_	_
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
23	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	cop	_	_
24	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	advcl	_	_
25	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	frightened	frightened	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand up** | present | the hairs along the back of the neck of a dog or feathers |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | bird |  |  |  |  | angry *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | bird *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To raise someone's hackles (or make their hackles rise) means to make them angry.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hackles:m2:1
# text = To raise someone's hackles (or make their hackles rise) means to make them angry.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	raise	raise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	13	nsubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	hackles	hackles	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	hackles	hackles	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	rise	rise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	8	punct	_	_
13	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **raise** | to-infinitive |  | someone's hackles |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hackles=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **rise** | present | hackles's hackles |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | hackles |  |  |  | angry *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset they=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog's hackles rose when it saw the fox.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hackles:x1:1
# text = The dog's hackles rose when it saw the fox.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	hackles	hackles	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | past | the dog's hackles |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | past | dog | the fox |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer fox=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rude comments really raise my hackles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hackles:x2:1
# text = Rude comments really raise my hackles.
1	Rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	comments	comment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	really	really	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	raise	raise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	hackles	hackles	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **raise** | infinitive | Rude comments | my hackles |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hackles=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat arched its back and its hackles stood up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hackles:x3:1
# text = The cat arched its back and its hackles stood up.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	arched	arch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	hackles	hackles	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arch** | past | the cat | cat's back |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent back=Patient |
| 2 | **stand up** | past | cat's hackles |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His bossy tone put my hackles up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hackles:x4:1
# text = His bossy tone put my hackles up.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tone	tone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	put	put	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	hackles	hackles	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	up	up	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put up** | past | His bossy tone | my hackles |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent hackles=Goal |
| 2 | **intonate** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom tone «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cockerel's hackles are long shiny neck feathers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hackles:x5:1
# text = A cockerel's hackles are long shiny neck feathers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cockerel	cockerel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	hackles	hackles	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
7	shiny	shiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cockerel's hackles | long shiny neck feathers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her hackles rose when someone called her a cheat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hackles:x6:1
# text = Her hackles rose when someone called her a cheat.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	hackles	hackles	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cheat	cheat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | past | Her hackles |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | past | someone |  | her *= she* |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent she=Recipient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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