Cackle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cackled (-k'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Cackling.]
Etymology: [OE. cakelen; cf. LG. kakeln, D. kakelen, G. gackeln, gackern; all of imitative origin. Cf. Gagle, Cake to cackle.]
1. To make a sharp, broken noise or cry, as a hen or goose does. When every goose is cackling. Shak.
2. To laugh with a broken noise, like the cackling of a hen or a goose; to giggle. Arbuthnot.
3. To talk in a silly manner; to prattle. Johnson.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Cackle, n.
1. The sharp broken noise made by a goose or by a hen that has laid an egg. By her cackle saved the state. Dryden.
2. Idle talk; silly prattle. There is a buzz and cackle all around regarding the sermon. Thackeray.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for cackle; he lists it under babble.
Where he writes about it:
The cackle of a hen, the gabble of a goose, the chatter of a magpie, the babble of a running stream, as applied to human speech, indicate a rapid succession of what are to the listener meaningless sounds. — from babble