Definition

Noun: A long, narrow feather that grows from the back (specifically the saddle area) of a domestic fowl, such as a rooster or hen. These feathers are often used in fly tying for fishing lures.

Usage

The term "saddle hackle" is used specifically in the contexts of poultry anatomy and fly tying. It refers to the physical feather and its practical application. * The fly tier selected a long, glossy saddle hackle from the rooster's plumage. * For this fishing fly pattern, you will need two ginger-colored saddle hackles.

Advanced Usage

• In Fly Tying: Saddle hackles are prized for their length, flexibility, and the density of their fibers (barbs). They are commonly wrapped around the hook shank to create the body and legs of artificial flies, such as streamers and wet flies. Their quality is often described by their length and the number of usable feathers per skin.
  • A premium saddle hackle cape can provide feathers for dozens of flies.

Variants and Related Words

• Saddle Feather: A more general term that can be synonymous with "saddle hackle," referring to the feathers growing from the lower back (saddle) of a bird.
• Neck Hackle or Cape Hackle: Feathers from the neck or cape of a bird, which are typically shorter and used for different fly patterns than saddle hackles.
• Hackle (noun): The general term for the neck and saddle feathers of a domestic fowl, especially when used in fly tying or as ornamentation.

Synonyms

• Saddle feather
• Cock saddle (when specifying from a rooster)
• Saddle

Antonyms

• There is no direct antonym, as it is a specific anatomical part. Contrasting terms could include flight feather (a primary wing feather) or contour feather (a general body feather).

Related Phrases

• Dry fly hackle: Refers to hackle feathers (often from the neck) prized for their stiffness and ability to make a fly float on the water's surface. Saddle hackles are less commonly used for dry flies.
• Saddle hackle cape: The entire piece of skin from the saddle area of a bird, with the feathers still attached, sold for fly tying.

Noun

1. a long narrow feather on the back (saddle) of a domestic fowl