snicker

Alternative forms

• snigger

Etymology

US variant of the British snigger, possibly of imitative origin, similar to Dutch snikken (“to gasp; sob”). The noun is first recorded 1836, from the verb. Compare also Scottish smicker (“to smile or laugh in a sniggering or leery way, smirk”). More at smicker.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsnɪk.ə(ɹ)/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsnɪkɚ/
• Rhymes: -ɪkə(r)

Noun

snicker (plural snickers)

1. A stifled or broken laugh

Verb

snicker (third-person singular simple present snickers, present participle snickering, simple past and past participle snickered)

1. (intransitive) To emit a snicker: a stifled or broken laugh.
   • 1915, T.S. Eliot, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock":

     I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker ...

2. (of a horse) To whinny.

Anagrams

• Kincers, Renicks, Resnick, nickers