The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cackle \Cac"kle\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cackled (-k'ld); p. pr.
   & vb. n. Cackling.] [OE. cakelen; cf. LG. kakeln, D.
   kakelen, G. gackeln, gackern; all of imitative origin. Cf.
   Gagle, Cake to cackle.]
   1. To make a sharp, broken noise or cry, as a hen or goose
      does.
      [1913 Webster]

            When every goose is cackling.         --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To laugh with a broken noise, like the cackling of a hen
      or a goose; to giggle. --Arbuthnot.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To talk in a silly manner; to prattle. --Johnson.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cackle \Cac"kle\, n.
   1. The sharp broken noise made by a goose or by a hen that
      has laid an egg.
      [1913 Webster]

            By her cackle saved the state.        --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Idle talk; silly prattle.
      [1913 Webster]

            There is a buzz and cackle all around regarding the
            sermon.                               --Thackeray.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

cackle
    n 1: the sound made by a hen after laying an egg
    2: noisy talk [syn: yak, yack, yakety-yak, chatter,
       cackle]
    3: a loud laugh suggestive of a hen's cackle
    v 1: talk or utter in a cackling manner; "The women cackled when
         they saw the movie star step out of the limousine"
    2: squawk shrilly and loudly, characteristic of hens
    3: emit a loud, unpleasant kind of laughing