hackles

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 17, 2023 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>hackles</strong> &#149; \HAK-ulz\&nbsp; &#149; <em>noun</em><br /> <p><em>Hackles</em> are hairs along the neck and back of an animal (especially a dog) that are capable of being raised to a stiff, upright position (as when a dog is frightened or angry). The plural noun <em>hackles</em> is often used figuratively with <em>raise</em> or <em>rise</em> to describe a person's response to something that causes anger or annoyance; thus, <em>hackles</em> can also mean “temper” or “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dander">dander</a>” (as in “don't get your temper/dander up”).</p> <p>// A number of the issues discussed in the political debate raised some <em>hackles</em> among members of the opposing party.</p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hackles">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>“If you want to raise someone's <em>hackles</em>, tell them how to spend, donate, or invest their money. Sure, we all want guidance, but few of us are open to obeying a total stranger.” — Dana George, <em>The Motley Fool</em> (Alexandria, Virginia), 6 Jan. 2023</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>In its earliest uses in the 15th century, <em>hackle</em> referred to either the <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plumage">plumage</a> along a bird's neck or to a device used to comb out long fibers of flax, hemp, or <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jute">jute</a>. Things took a turn in the 19th century when English speakers extended the word’s plural use to both dogs and people. Like the bird’s feathers, the hairs on the back of a dog’s neck stand up when the animal is agitated. With humans, use of the word <em>hackles</em> is usually figurative. So, if you <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.