Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CACK'LE, v. [D. kaakelen, to chatter; Ger. gackern, to cackle, to gaggle; D. gaggelen, to chatter; Eng. gaggle and giggle; Dan. kagler, to cluck, as a hen; Sp. cacarear, to cackle or crow.]

1. To make a particular noise, as a goose or a hen. – Dryden. Shak.
2. To laugh with a broken noise, like the cackling of a goose; to giggle, which is a word from the same root. – Arbuthnot.
3. To prate; to prattle; to tattle; to talk in a silly manner. – Johnson.