giggle
nounEtymology 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”).
1
A high-pitched, silly laugh.
- 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!1952 February, H. C. Casserley, “Permanent Wayfarings”, in Railway Magazine, page 77:
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.
1 more example
- 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.2013, Patricia Newell-Dunkley, Letters of a Travelling Lady, page 16:
- Derived terms
- church giggle, giggle academy, giggle berries, giggle bin, giggle box, giggledom, giggle dust, giggle factory, gigglefest, giggle gas, giggle hat, giggle house, giggle juice, gigglement, giggle soup, giggle stick, giggle suit, giggle test, giggle water, giggle waterfor shits and giggles, grins and giggles, hit and giggle, kicks and giggles, shits and giggles