Make one’s hackles rise

Hackles is an old English word that dates back to the 1400s for the feathers or fur on the neck of cockerels, pigeons, dogs etc, which are raised or extended when these animals are in aggressive mood. According to the OED, to show hackles is a now largely obsolete expression for to show fight that dates from the mid-19th century. To raise one’s hackles, to make one’s hackles rise or get one’s hackles up all mean to show annoyance or anger and these figurative usages date from the late 19th century. Different coloured hackles made of cockerel feathers have traditionally been worn on the caps of many British Army regiments down the years. Perhaps the most famous are the red hackles still worn by The Black Watch, now the 3rd Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.