Etymology First attested in the early 18th century, originally Scots, probably onomatopoeic.
1
A boisterous laugh.
On opening the little door, two hairy monsters flew at my throat, bearing me down, and extinguishing the light; while a mingled guffaw from Heathcliff and Hareton put the copestone on my rage and humiliation.1847 December, Ellis Bell [pseudonym; Emily Brontë], Wuthering Heights: […], volume II, London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC:
He walked to the edge and they heard his hoarse guffaw of laughter as the arrows clanged and clattered against his impenetrable mail.1905–1906, Arthur Conan Doyle, chapter XX, in Sir Nigel, London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], published January 1906, →OCLC:
2 more examples
He heaved up with a sulfurous curse, braced his legs and glared about him, with a burst of coarse guffaws in his ears and the reek of unwashed bodies in his nostrils.1936, Robert E. Howard, chapter 15, in The Hour of the Dragon:
When Time magazine named Ann Coulter among its 100 "most influential people" last week, alongside such heavyweights as Ariel Sharon, Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Kim Jong Il and the Dalai Lama, the choice produced guffaws online.2005 April 19, Eric Boehlert, “Time hearts Ann Coulter”, in Salon, archived from the original on 17 May 2006:
guffaw
verb
Etymology First attested in the early 18th century, originally Scots, probably onomatopoeic.
1
To laugh boisterously.
He guffawed at his adversaries.1891, Oscar Wilde, chapter 15, in The Picture of Dorian Gray:
Peter, on the contrary, threw back his head and guffawed thunderously.1900, Stephen Crane, The Knife: