giggle

Early 16th century, probably of imitative origin.^[1]

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”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɪɡl̩/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪɡəl

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

1. To laugh gently in a playful, nervous, or affected manner.

   Synonyms: titter; see also Thesaurus:laugh

   The jokes had them giggling like little girls all evening.

giggle (plural giggles)

1. A high-pitched, silly laugh.
   • 1952 February, H. C. Casserley, “Permanent Wayfarings”, in Railway Magazine, page 77:

     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!

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.

   • 2013, Patricia Newell-Dunkley, Letters of a Travelling Lady, page 16:

     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.

• (laugh): titter
• (amusement): amusement, fun, a joke, a laugh or laughs