giggle

English

Etymology

Unknown. Perhaps a frequentative based on dialectal English gig (to creak), from Middle English gigen (to make a creaking sound) + -le. Compare Middle English gigge, gige (a squeaking sound; a creak), Dutch giechelen, German kichern.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɡɪɡl/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪɡəl

Verb

giggle (third-person singular simple present giggles, present participle giggling, simple past and past participle giggled)

  1. To laugh gently or in a high-pitched voice; to laugh in a silly or giddy way.
    The jokes had them giggling like little girls all evening.

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Noun

giggle (plural giggles)

  1. A high-pitched, silly laugh.
  2. (informal) Fun; an amusing episode.
    We put itching powder down his shirt for giggles.
    The women thought it would be quite a giggle to have a strippergram at the bride's hen party.

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