chortle

WOTD - 5 April 2006    

English

Etymology

Coined by Lewis Carroll in his poem Jabberwocky, perhaps as a blend of chuckle and snort.

Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ɔː(r)təl

Noun

Singular chortle

Plural {{{1}}}

chortle ({{{1}}})

1. A joyful, somewhat muffled laugh, rather like a snorting chuckle.

   He frequently interrupted himself with chortles while he told us his favorite joke.

Synonyms

• chuckle

Translations

joyful, somewhat muffled laugh

Finnish: hörötys French: gloussement fr(fr) m.

Norwegian: humring no(no) c., klukklatter no(no) m., snøfting no(no) c.

Verb

Infinitive to chortle

Third person singular chortl

Simple past -

Past participle -

Present participle ing

to chortle (third-person singular simple present chortl, present participle ing, simple past and past participle -)

1. (intransitive) To laugh with a chortle or chortles.

   The old fellow chortled as he recalled his youthful adventures.

   • 1871 — Lewis Carroll, Jabberwocky

     'O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy.

Synonyms

• chuckle

Translations

to laugh with a chortle or chortles

Finnish: höröttää fi(fi) French: glousser fr(fr)

Kannada: Kushiada Nage Norwegian: humre no(no), klukkle no(no), snøfte no(no)

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