From Middle English tiklen, tikelen, of uncertain origin. Perhaps from a frequentative form of Middle English tikken (“to touch lightly”), thus equivalent to tick + -le; or perhaps related to Old English tinclian (“to tickle”). Compare North Frisian tigele (“to tickle”) (Hallig dialect), and tiikle (“to tickle”) (Amrum dialect), German dialectal zicklen (“to excite; stir up”).
Alternatively, from a metathetic alteration of Middle English kitelen ("to tickle"; see kittle). Both are ultimately sound-symbolic.
Meanings
(obsolete) Changeable, capricious; insecure.
So ticle be the termes of mortall state,
And full of subtile sophismes, which do play
With double senses, and with false debate […] 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
From Middle English tiklen, tikelen, of uncertain origin. Perhaps from a frequentative form of Middle English tikken (“to touch lightly”), thus equivalent to tick + -le; or perhaps related to Old English tinclian (“to tickle”). Compare North Frisian tigele (“to tickle”) (Hallig dialect), and tiikle (“to tickle”) (Amrum dialect), German dialectal zicklen (“to excite; stir up”).
Alternatively, from a metathetic alteration of Middle English kitelen ("to tickle"; see kittle). Both are ultimately sound-symbolic.
Meanings
Insecurely, precariously, unstably.
Lucio. I warrant it is: And thy head stands so tickle on
thy shoulders, that a milke-maid, if she be in loue, may
sigh it off: Send after the Duke, and appeale to him. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
From Middle English tiklen, tikelen, of uncertain origin. Perhaps from a frequentative form of Middle English tikken (“to touch lightly”), thus equivalent to tick + -le; or perhaps related to Old English tinclian (“to tickle”). Compare North Frisian tigele (“to tickle”) (Hallig dialect), and tiikle (“to tickle”) (Amrum dialect), German dialectal zicklen (“to excite; stir up”).
Alternatively, from a metathetic alteration of Middle English kitelen ("to tickle"; see kittle). Both are ultimately sound-symbolic.
Meanings
The act of tickling.
An itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling.
I have a persistent tickle in my throat.
(informal) A light tap of the ball.
There's a very fine line between a tickle and an edge! 2016, Ann Waterhouse, Cricket Made Simple:
(Newfoundland) A narrow strait, such as between an island and the shore.
Charts and Plans. [...] No. New Charts. 2253 England, and south coast—Dartmouth harbour. [...] 3320 Newfoundland, Thimble tickles and Glover harbour—Head of Seal bay. 1903 April 8, The Syren and Shipping, page 169:
Cow Head itself is a prominent headland connected to the settlement by a natural causeway, or ‘tickle’ as the Newfoundlanders prefer it. 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 169:
Forms
Spelling
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Labels
Source
tickles
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Translations (65)
ceb gitik (act of tickling) · de Kitzeln (act of tickling) · ba ҡытыҡлауҡытыҡтау (act of tickling) · az qıdıq (act of tickling) · ast rebelgos (act of tickling) · pam lingapngap (act of tickling) · es hormigueo (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · fa غلغلک (act of tickling) · fa خارش (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · war guluk (act of tickling) · pt cosca (act of tickling) · ga cigilt (act of tickling) · tl kiliti (act of tickling) · tsg gitok (act of tickling) · fa قلقلک (act of tickling) · pt cócegas (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · ast cosques (act of tickling) · es cosquilleo (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · bcl lindok (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · ast rebelguinos (act of tickling) · ru щекота́ние (act of tickling) · war gerikgit (act of tickling) · eo tikli (act of tickling) · scn accattigghiu (act of tickling) · ru щеко́тка (act of tickling) · id geletik (act of tickling) · uk ло́скіт (act of tickling) · ca pessigolles (act of tickling) · acw دَغْدَغة (act of tickling) · mr गुदगुली (act of tickling) · pam kalamkam (act of tickling) · tl kalamkam (act of tickling) · ast cosquielles (act of tickling) · az qıdıqlama (act of tickling) · es cosquillas (act of tickling) · pt cosquinha (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · fr chatouille (act of tickling) · fa قلقلک (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · sh golicanje (act of tickling) · tl kiliti (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · uk лоскота́ння (act of tickling) · fi kutitus (act of tickling) · pt cosca (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · az qıdıq (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · ne काउकुती (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · bg гъделичкане (act of tickling) · es coscas (act of tickling) · pl gilanie (act of tickling) · bg гъдел (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · ta கிச்சுக்கிச்சு (act of tickling) · ta கிச்சுக்கிச்சு (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · fi kutina (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · scn attacchigghiu (act of tickling) · pt cócegas (act of tickling) · ms geletek (act of tickling) · ar دَغْدَغَة (act of tickling) · mi ngaoko (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · ml ഇക്കിളി (act of tickling) · bcl kutok (act of tickling) · pt cosquinha (act of tickling) · ml ഇക്കിൾ (act of tickling) · cmn 痒感 (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · cmn 痒 (an itchy feeling resembling the result of tickling) · ne काउकुती लाउनु (act of tickling) · it solletico (act of tickling)
From Middle English tiklen, tikelen, of uncertain origin. Perhaps from a frequentative form of Middle English tikken (“to touch lightly”), thus equivalent to tick + -le; or perhaps related to Old English tinclian (“to tickle”). Compare North Frisian tigele (“to tickle”) (Hallig dialect), and tiikle (“to tickle”) (Amrum dialect), German dialectal zicklen (“to excite; stir up”).
Alternatively, from a metathetic alteration of Middle English kitelen ("to tickle"; see kittle). Both are ultimately sound-symbolic.
Meanings
(transitive) To touch repeatedly or stroke delicately in a manner which typically causes laughter, pleasure and twitching.
He tickled Nancy's tummy, and she started to giggle.
If you tickle us, do we not laugh? c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
(intransitive, of a body part) To feel as if the body part in question is being tickled.
My nose tickles, and I'm going to sneeze!
(transitive) To appeal to someone's taste, curiosity etc.
(transitive) To cause delight or amusement in.
Behold the child, by Nature's kindly law,
Pleas'd with a rattle, tickled with a straw. 1733, Alexander Pope, “Epistle II”, in An Essay on Man, lines 275–276; republished in The Complete Poetical Works of Alexander Pope, Boston, New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1902, page 145:
Such a nature
Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon. c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
He was tickled to receive such a wonderful gift.
(intransitive) To feel titillation.
He with secret joy therefore
Did tickle inwardly in every vein. 1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Muiopotmos, or The Fate of the Butterflie”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC:
(transitive) To catch fish in the hand (usually in rivers or smaller streams) by manually stimulating the fins.
pt fazer cosca (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · alt кычыктаар (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · it titillare (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · cmn 發癢 /发痒 (to feel as if being tickled) · oc cotiguejar (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · fi kutista (to feel as if being tickled) · fi kutiaa (to feel as if being tickled) · mi tōkenekene (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · et kõditama (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · sh golìcati (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · he דיגדג \ דִּגְדֵּג (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ko 간질이다 (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · it solleticare (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · fa غلغلک دادن (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · es cosquillear (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · uk залоскота́ти (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ro gâdila (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mn гижигдэх (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · la tītillō (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · pl łaskotać (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ja 擽る (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mk скокотка (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · pl gilgać (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · fa قلقلک دادن (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ang tinclian (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · bg ловя с ръце (to catch fish in the hand by stimulating the fins) · el γαργαλώ (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · is kitla (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mi whakakoekoe (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mi noenoe (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · oc cosserguejar (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · tl mangiliti (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · nl kriebelen (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · vi cù lét (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · be казлыта́ць (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · tyz dích doóc (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · fi innostaa (to cause delight or amusement) · vi chọc lét (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · eo tikli (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · tg китиқ кардан (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · cmn 癢癢 /痒痒 (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · pt titilar (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mi ngaoko (to feel as if being tickled) · pl smyrać (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · cs lechtat (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · sk štekliť (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · az qıdıqlamaq (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · be шлаката́ць (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · fo kitla (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · pl łechtać (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ang ċitelian (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · bg гъдели́чкам (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mi patete (to feel as if being tickled) · es hacer cosquillas (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · fr faire guili-guili (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ltg kitynuot (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · hy խտղտել (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · tr gıdıklanmak (to feel as if being tickled) · ta கிச்சுக்கிச்சுமூட்டு (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ta மகிழ்வி (to cause delight or amusement) · tl kilitiin (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · cu скъкътати (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mi whakamāngeongeo (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · tl kumiliti (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · vi cù (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mk скокотне (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · nb kile (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · hy խտղտացնել (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mi whakangeongeo (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · cu скоктати (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ba ҡытыҡтау (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · grc γαργαλίζω (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mi whakakuikui (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · de kitzeln (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · nn kitle (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ga cigil (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · sv killa (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · da kilde (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · fi kiinnostaa (to appeal to someone's taste, curiosity etc.) · bg угаждам (to cause delight or amusement) · ug غىدىقلىماق (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · af kielie (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ar دَغْدَغَ (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · krl kut’kuttua (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · fi kutittaa (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · vi thọc lét (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · lv kutināt (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ur گدگدانا (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ta கிச்சுக்கிச்செனல் (to feel as if being tickled) · ka ხიცინი (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ru пощекота́ть (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · lt kutenti (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ang tinclian (to feel as if being tickled) · sl ščegetati (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · sv kittla (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · be ласката́ць (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mi tīnaonao (to catch fish in the hand by stimulating the fins) · hi गुदगुदाना (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · fi jännittää (to cause delight or amusement) · mi whakatongene (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ba ҡытыҡлау (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ang ċitelian (to feel as if being tickled) · nl kietelen (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · pt fazer cócegas (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · uz qitiqlamoq (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · pt fazer cosquinha (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · scn cadugghiari (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · be шчаката́ць (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · tyz chúc chí (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ca fer pessigolles (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · grc κνήθω (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · th จี้ (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · fr chatouiller (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · sh голѝцати (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · tyz cắc kẹ (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · dsb łakosćiś (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · tr gıdıklamak (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · nrf catouoilli (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · arz زَغْزَغ (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · lld fé la catidles (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · qu kullay (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · uk лоскота́ти (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ky кытыгылоо (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · ru щекота́ть (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · be казыта́ць (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · mi whakangaoko (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · bg гъдел ме е (to feel as if being tickled) · mr गुदगुल्या करणे (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · kk қытықтау (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · cy gogleisio (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · cy cosi (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · yue 擳 /𰓜 (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · sl žgečkati (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · cmn 胳肢 (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · tg ҷиҷолак кардан (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation) · el γαργαλάω (to touch in a manner that causes tingling sensation)