If people in an audience heckle public speakers or performers, they interrupt them, for example by making rude remarks. They heckled him and interrupted his address with angry questions A small group of youths stayed behind to heckle and shout abuse. Heckle is also a noun. The offending comment was in fact a heckle from an audience member. + heckling heck·ling The ceremony was disrupted by unprecedented heckling and slogan-chanting. + heckler hecklers heck·ler As he began his speech, a heckler called out asking for his opinion on gun control. to interrupt and try to embarrass someone who is speaking or performing in public (hackle; HACKLES)
[ 'he-k&l ] (transitive verb.) circa 1825. Middle English hekelen to dress flax, scratch, from heckele hackle; akin to Old High German hAko hook; more at HOOK.