Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HATCH'EL, n. [G. hechel, D. hekel, Dan. hegle, Sw. häckla, whence the common pronunciation in America, hetchel. In Slav. hakel is a rake.]

An instrument formed with long iron teeth set in a board, for cleansing flax or hemp from the tow, hards or coarse part. The hatchel is a large species of comb.