An Old English word for the instrument used to straighten flax, gave us a verb, to heckle, with the sense ‘to speak sharply and reprovingly (to), to give (someone) a dressing-down, to scold severely’. Heckling is much older in Scots than in English and was often used of the process of questioning parliamentary candidates. An English parliamentary candidate contesting a Scottish seat was upbraided by a voter for being English. The candidate replied “Indeed, my man, I am an Englishman. I was born and Englishman and I hope to die an Englishman.” “Michty me!” said the Scottish voter, “Hiv ye nae ambeetion?”
Now heckling is to be heard in comedy venues where Scots audiences have raised heckling to an art form. Heckling can also mean teasing or even provoking to anger.