snicker

English

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈsnɪk.ə(ɹ)/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈsnɪkɚ/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪkə(r)

Etymology 1

US variant of the British snigger, possibly of imitative origin, similar to Dutch snikken (to gasp; sob). The noun is first recorded 1836, from the verb. Compare also Scottish smicker (to smile or laugh in a sniggering or leery way, smirk). More at smicker.

Alternative forms

Noun

snicker (plural snickers)

  1. A stifled or broken laugh.
Translations

Verb

snicker (third-person singular simple present snickers, present participle snickering, simple past and past participle snickered)

  1. (intransitive) To emit a snicker, a stifled or broken laugh.
    • 1915, T.S. Eliot, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock":
      I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker []
  2. (transitive) To utter through a laugh of this kind.
  3. (of a horse) To whinny.
Synonyms
Translations

Etymology 2

snick + -er

Noun

snicker (plural snickers)

  1. (cricket, rare) A player who snicks the ball.

Anagrams

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