'heckle' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'hekelen', where 'hekelen' meant 'to comb flax or hemp'.

'hekelen' transformed into the modern English word 'heckle', which eventually took on the meaning of interrupting a speaker with derisive comments.

Initially, it meant 'to comb flax or hemp', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'interrupting a speaker with derisive comments'.