giggle en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈɡɪɡl̩/
- (US) audio
Etymology
Early 16th century, probably of imitative origin. Or, perhaps a frequentative based on dialectal English gig (“to creak”), from Middle English gigen (“to make a creaking sound”) + -le; or perhaps of Dutch or Low German origin: compare Saterland Frisian güüchelje (“to giggle”), West Frisian giechelje (“to giggle”), Dutch giechelen (“to giggle”), German Low German giecheln (“to giggle”), dialectal German giggln, gigglen (“to giggle”), German gickeln (“to giggle”). All of these words are likely onomatopoeic as well. Also compare Alemannic German Guege (“fiddle”).
Meanings
-
A high-pitched, silly laugh.
My audience to this not-too-easy operation was a small group of Scottish school lasses, who seemed (perhaps naturally) to find the proceedings somewhat mysterious, but at any rate amusing. I wished they would go away, but they didn't, so I had to get on with the job to the accompaniment of a background of giggles!
1952 February, H. C. Casserley, “Permanent Wayfarings”, in Railway Magazine, page 77:
-
(informal) Fun; an amusing episode.
The women thought it would be quite a giggle to have a strippergram at the bride's hen party.
We put itching powder down his shirt for giggles.
For my first English breakfast I had kippers and pink champagne - what a combination, still it was a bit of a giggle and I know I've really arrived.
2013, Patricia Newell-Dunkley, Letters of a Travelling Lady, page 16:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| giggles | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
giggle juice · giggle hat · giggle house · gigglement · giggle factory · giggle academy · giggle bin · giggle stick · giggle dust · hit and giggle · giggledom · giggle gas · giggle test · giggle soup · grins and giggles · shits and giggles · kicks and giggles · church giggle · giggle box · gigglefest · giggle suit · giggle water · giggle berries · giggle waterfor shits and giggles
Synonyms
fun (amusement) · amusement (amusement) · a laugh (amusement) · a joke (amusement) · laughs (amusement) · titter (laugh)
Translations (25)
fa ریسه (laugh) · no fnising (laugh) · ar اِنْكِلَال (laugh) · nl gegiechel (laugh) · el χάχανο (laugh) · ru хихи́канье (laugh) · es risita (laugh) · mk кикотница (laugh) · tr kıkırdama (laugh) · ka ხითხითი (laugh) · bg хихикане (laugh) · no knising (laugh) · de Gekicher (laugh) · ar اِفْتِرَار (laugh) · fr gloussement (laugh) · bg кикот (laugh) · pt risadinha (laugh) · da fnis (laugh) · ca rialleta (laugh) · cy piff (laugh) · mk кикот (laugh) · cy cilchwerthiniad (laugh) · pl chichot (laugh) · gl risiña (laugh) · fi kikatus (laugh)