Etymology Dictionary

CACKLE,  to make a noise like a goose.  (E.)   In early use.   'The hen...ne con but kakelen,'  the hen can only cackle; Ancren Riwle, p. 66.   May be claimed as English; being evidently of O. Low-G. origin.   Cf. Du. kakelen, to chatter, gabble. + Swed. kackla, to cackle, gaggle. + Dan. kagle. + G. gackeln, gakeln, gackern, to cackle, gaggle, chatter.   B. The termination -le has a frequentative force.   The stem cack- (i.e. kak) is imitative, like gag- in prov. E. gaggle, to cackle, and gob- or gab- in gobble, to make a noise like a turkey, and gabble.   Cf. A. S. ceahhetan, to laugh loudly, Beda, v. 12; G. kichern, to giggle.   From the Teutonic base KAK, to laugh, cackle; Fick, iii. 39.   ¶ Observe the three graduations of this imitative root, viz. (1) KAK, as in cackle; (2) KIK, as in the nasalised chink in chincough, i.e. kink-cough or chink-cough; and (3) KUK, as in cough, and probably in choke; certainly in chuckle.   All refer to convulsive motions of the throat.