chortle

Etymology

Perhaps a blend of chuckle +‎ snort. Coined by Lewis Carroll in his poem Jabberwocky, first published in 1855 but only introduced to the public in his 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

  (file)

  Rhymes: -ɔː(r)təl

Noun

chortle (plural chortles)

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

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

Verb

chortle (third-person singular simple present chortles, present participle chortling, simple past and past participle chortled)

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.