The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hatchel \Hatch"el\ (-[e^]l; 277), n. [OE. hechele, hekele; akin
   to D. hekel, G. hechel, Dan. hegle, Sw. h[aum]kla, and prob.
   to E. hook. See Hook, and cf. Hackle, Heckle.]
   An instrument with long iron teeth set in a board, for
   cleansing flax or hemp from the tow, hards, or coarse part; a
   kind of large comb; -- called also hackle and heckle.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hatchel \Hatch"el\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hatcheled or
   Hatchelled (-[e^]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Hatcheling or
   Hatchelling.] [OE. hechelen, hekelen; akin to D. hekelen,
   G. hecheln, Dan. hegle, Sw. h[aum]kla. See Hatchel, n.]
   1. To draw through the teeth of a hatchel, as flax or hemp,
      so as to separate the coarse and refuse parts from the
      fine, fibrous parts.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To tease; to worry; to torment. [Colloq.]
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

hatchel
    n 1: a comb for separating flax fibers [syn: hatchel,
         heckle]
    v 1: comb with a heckle; "heckle hemp or flax" [syn: heckle,
         hackle, hatchel]