cackle — ODE · Shobdo

cackle /ˈkakl

▸ verb [no object] laugh in a loud, harsh way:

she cackled with laughter.

▪ (of a bird, especially a hen or goose) give a raucous clucking cry:

the hen was cackling as if demented.

▪ informal talk at length without acting on what is said:

corporate luminaries cackle on about the importance of quality.

▸ noun a loud, harsh laugh:

her delighted cackle.

▪ the raucous clucking cry of a bird such as a hen or a goose:

ducks have a harsh growling cackle.

– PHRASES

cut the cackle [usually in imperative] informal
stop talking aimlessly and come to the point:

cut the cackle and just get us there.

– ORIGIN Middle English: probably from Middle Low German kākelen, partly imitative, reinforced by kāke ‘jaw, cheek’.