giggle

Etymology

Unknown. Perhaps a frequentative based on dialectal English gig (“to creak”), from Middle English gigen (“to make a creaking sound”) +‎ -le. Compare Middle English gigge, gige (“a squeaking sound; a creak”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɪɡl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪɡəl

Verb

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

1. To laugh gently or in a high-pitched voice; to laugh in a silly or giddy way.

   The jokes had them giggling like little girls all evening.

Noun

giggle (plural giggles)

1. A high-pitched, silly laugh.
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.