giggle

== English == === 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”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈɡɪɡl̩/ Rhymes: -ɪɡəl === Verb === giggle (third-person singular simple present giggles, present participle giggling, simple past and past participle giggled) To laugh gently in a playful, nervous, or affected manner. Synonyms: titter; see also Thesaurus:laugh ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === giggle (plural giggles) A high-pitched, silly laugh. (informal) Fun; an amusing episode. ==== Synonyms ==== (laugh): titter (amusement): amusement, fun, a joke, a laugh or laughs ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References ===