chucklen.1
/ˈtʃʌk(ə)l/ 1.
a. An act of chuckling; a laugh of triumph and exultation: formerly applied to a loud laugh, but now chiefly to a suppressed and inarticulate sound by which exultation is shown.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > [noun] > chuckling > instance of
chuckle1743
keckle1820
cackle1856
chortle1903
1743 H. Fielding Ess. Char. Men in Misc. I. 194 That honest, hearty, loud Chuckle, which shakes the Sides of Aldermen and 'Squires.
1820 J. Keats Isabella in Lamia & Other Poems 80 With melodious chuckle in the strings Of her lorn voice.
1841 E. Miall in Nonconformist 1 242 Enjoy your chuckle, gentlemen.
1842 H. Rogers Ess. I. i. 38 As different..as the innocent laugh of childhood from the malignant chuckle of a demon.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters viii. 201 She is in a perpetual chuckle of merry malice.
1869 A. Trollope He knew he was Right I. vi. 48 With a whistle..and a little low chuckle of laughter.
b. Chuckling, exultation, glee.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [noun]
merrinesseOE
gladnessc900
mirtheOE
playeOE
dreamOE
gladshipc975
lissOE
willOE
hightOE
blithenessc1000
gladc1000
winOE
blissc1175
delices?c1225
delight?c1225
joy?c1225
comfortc1230
listc1275
gladhead1303
daintyc1325
fainnessc1340
lightnessa1350
delectationc1384
delightingc1390
comfortationa1400
fainheada1400
blithec1400
fainc1400
delicacyc1405
gladsomeness1413
reveriea1425
joyousitiea1450
joyfulnessc1485
jucundity1536
joyousness1549
joc1560
delightfulness1565
jouissance1579
joyance1590
levitya1631
revelling1826
chuckle1837
joyancy1849
a song in one's heart1862
delightsomeness1866
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > [noun] > chuckling
chucking1598
chuckling1820
keckling1836
chuckle1837
1837 S. Smith Let. to Singleton in Wks. (1859) II. 284/2 Viscount Melbourne, in high chuckle.
1883 E. Pennell-Elmhirst Cream Leics. 83 A great source of chuckle..to the agriculturists of the district.
2. The call of some birds to their young; the cluck or cackle of a hen.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > sound or bird defined by > [noun] > for specific purpose
chuckle1774
chick1821
Valentine1847
food-call1879
nesting-song1879
flight call1937
flight note1937
the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > hen or cock > [noun] > hen > sound made by
cacklingc1374
chuckc1405
clocking1440
clucking1577
chucking1598
cackle1674
cluck1697
chuckle1774
clock1825
1774 D. Barrington in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 63 255 The nestling linnet retained the call of its own species, or what the bird-catchers call the linnet's chuckle, from some resemblance to that word when pronounced.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
chuckleadj.n.2
/ˈtʃʌk(ə)l/ A. adj.
Big and clumsy (?) like a chuck of firewood, blockish: applied contemptuously to the head, and occasionally to other parts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > types of head > [adjective] > attribute of
dejected1600
cop-crowned1650
copped-crowned1650
chubbed1674
chuckle1721
massive1843
1721 T. D'Urfey New Opera's 164 The Dew laps from his chuckle Chin That had with gorging pampered been.
1863 J. P. Robson Songs Bards of Tyne 343 The lubbart wi' the chuckle heed.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. xiii. 260 Her great chuckle-head..and drooping hind-quarters.
B. n.2
A big hulking fellow, a chuckle-head.
ΘΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > stupid person, dolt, blockhead > lout, oaf, booby > [noun]
lubber1362
looby1377
howfing?a1513
slouch?1518
bowberta1522
knuckylbonyarda1529
lob1533
lout1548
patch1549
hoballa1556
lilburnea1556
lobcocka1556
chub1558
hick1565
lourd1579
peasant1581
clown1583
lubbard1586
lumberer1593
lump1597
blooterc1600
boobyc1600
lob-coat1604
hoy1607
bacon-brainsa1635
alcatote1638
oaf1638
kelf1665
brute1670
dowf1722
gawky1724
chuckle1731
chuckle-head1731
John Trott1753
stega1823
lummoxa1825
gawk1837
country jakea1854
guffin1862
galoot1866
stot1877
lobster1896
mutt1900
palooka1920
schlub1950
1731–1800 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. Chuckle, a rattling, noisy, empty Fellow.
1817 ‘W. Whistlecraft’ & ‘R. Whistlecraft’ Prospectus National Work King Arthur ii. xlv And thus disabled that stupendous chuckle.
Compounds
chuckle-pate n. block-head (also attributive).
ΘΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > [adjective]
sloweOE
stuntc960
dullOE
hardOE
stuntlyc1000
sotc1050
dillc1175
dulta1225
simplea1325
heavy1340
astonedc1374
sheepishc1380
dull-witteda1387
lourd1390
steerishc1411
ass-likea1425
brainless?a1439
deafc1440
sluggishc1450
short-witted1477
obtuse1509
peakish1519
wearish1519
deaf, or dumb as a beetle1520
doileda1522
gross1526
headlessa1530
stulty1532
ass-headed1533
pot-headed1533
stupid?1541
sheep's head1542
doltish1543
dumpish1545
assish1548
blockish1548
slow-witted1548
blockheaded1549
surd1551
dull-headed1552
hammer-headed1552
skit-brained?1553
buzzardly1561
witless1562
log-headeda1566
assy1566
sottish1566
dastardly1567
stupidious1567
beetle-headed1570
calvish1570
bluntish1578
cod's-headed1578
grout-headed1578
bedaft1579
dull-pated1580
blate1581
buzzard-like1581
long-eared1582
dullard1583
woodena1586
duncical1588
leaden-headed1589
buzzard1592
dorbellical1592
dunstical1592
heavy-headeda1593
shallow-brained1592
blunt-witted1594
mossy1597
Bœotian1598
clay-brained1598
fat1598
fat-witted1598
knotty-pated1598
stupidous1598
wit-lost1599
barren1600
duncifiedc1600
lourdish1600
stockish1600
thick1600
booby1603
leaden-pated1603
partless1603
thin-headed1603
leaden-skulledc1604
blockhead1606
frost-brained1606
ram-headed1608
beef-witted1609
insulse1609
leaden-spirited1609
asininec1610
clumse1611
blockheadly1612
wattle-headed1613
flata1616
logger-headeda1616
puppy-headeda1616
shallow-patedc1616
thick-brained1619
half-headed1621
buzzard-blinda1625
beef-brained1628
toom-headed1629
thick-witted1634
woollen-witted1635
squirrel-headed1637
clod-pated1639
lean-souled1639
muddy-headed1642
leaden-witteda1645
as sad as any mallet1645
under-headed1646
fat-headed1647
half-witted1647
insipid1651
insulsate1652
soft-headed1653
thick-skulleda1657
muddish1658
non-intelligent1659
whey-brained1660
sap-headed1665
timber-headed1666
leather-headeda1668
out of (one's) tree1669
boobily1673
thoughtless1673
lourdly1674
logger1675
unintelligenta1676
Bœotic1678
chicken-brained1678
under-witted1683
loggerhead1684
dunderheaded1692
unintelligible1694
buffle-headed1697
crassicc1700
numbskulled1707
crassous1708
doddy-polled1708
haggis-headed1715
niddy-noddy1722
muzzy1723
pudding-headed1726
sumphish1728
pitcher-souleda1739
duncey1743
hebete1743
chuckheaded1756
dumb1756
duncely1757
imbecile1766
mutton-headed1768
chuckle-headed1770
jobbernowl1770
dowfarta1774
boobyish1778
wittol1780
staumrel1787
opaquec1789
stoopid1791
mud-headed1793
borné1795
muzzy-headed1798
nog-headed1800
thick-headed1801
gypit1804
duncish1805
lightweight1809
numbskull1814
tup-headed1816
chuckle-pate1820
unintellectuala1821
dense1822
ninnyish1822
dunch1825
fozy1825
potato-headed1826
beef-headed1828
donkeyish1831
blockheadish1833
pinheaded1837
squirrel-minded1837
pumpkin-headed1838
tomfoolish1838
dundering1840
chicken-headed1842
like a bump on a log1842
ninny-minded1849
numbheadeda1852
nincompoopish1852
suet-brained1852
dolly1853
mullet-headed1853
sodden1853
fiddle-headed1854
numb1854
bovine1855
logy1859
crass1861
unsmart1861
off his chump1864
wooden-headed1865
stupe1866
lean-minded1867
duffing1869
cretinous1871
doddering1871
thick-head1873
doddling1874
stupido1879
boneheaded1883
woolly-headed1883
leaden-natured1889
suet-headed1890
sam-sodden1891
dopey1896
turnip-headed1898
bonehead1903
wool-witted1905
peanut-headed1906
peanut-brained1907
dilly1909
torpid-minded1909
retardate1912
nitwitted1917
meat-headed1918
mug1922
cloth-headed1925
loopy1925
nitwit1928
lame-brained1929
dead from the neck up1930
simpy1932
nail-headed1936
square-headed1936
dingbats1937
pinhead1939
dim-witted1940
pea-brained1942
clueless1943
lobotomized1943
retarded1949
pointy-headed1950
clottish1952
like a stunned mullet1953
silly (or crazy) as a two-bob watch1954
out to lunch1955
pin-brained1958
dozy1959
eejity1964
out of one's tiny mind1965
doofus1967
twitty1967
twittish1969
twatty1975
twattish1976
blur1977
dof1979
goofus1981
dickheaded1991
dickish1991
numpty1992
cockish1996
1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 7 677 And the pence were put down by the chucklepate many.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
chucklev.
/ˈtʃʌk(ə)l/ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > laugh in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > laugh convulsively or immoderately
chuckle1598
to split (also break, burst, etc.) one's sides1598
to die with, or of laughing1609
to hold one's sides1609
to laugh till (also until) one cries1611
split1688
to burst one's sides1712
shake1729
to shake one's sides1736
to laugh oneself sick (also silly)1773
roll1819
to laugh one's head off1871
to break up1895
to fall about1918
pee1946
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Collepolarsi d'allegrezza, to chuckle, to chuck or rouze ones selfe to gladnes and mirth.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xx. 110 Such Liberties of Speech, as they would saucily chuckle at.
1826 C. Lamb in New Monthly Mag. 16 30 It would be difficult to find one who has heartily chuckled at it.
2.
a. To laugh in a suppressed manner; to laugh to oneself; to make or show inarticulate signs of exultation or triumph.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > laugh in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > chuckle
keckle1513
chuck1598
shuckle1598
cackle1712
chuckle1803
chortle1871
1803 S. Smith Wks. 25 A man, who would..set the house in a blaze, that he might chuckle over the splendour.
1841 I. D'Israeli Amenities Lit. II. 54 A tale which some antiquaries still chuckle over.
1850 C. Kingsley Alton Locke I. iii. 55 Then he filled his pipe and chuckled away in silence.
1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud iv. v, in Maud & Other Poems 16 We whisper, and hint, and chuckle, and grin at a brother's shame.
1881 W. Besant & J. Rice Chaplain of Fleet I. iii. 41 He went off chuckling.
b. transitive. Also chuckle out, to utter with a chuckle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > with a sneer, laugh, etc.
laugheOE
simper1567
sneer1693
titter1787
chuckle out1820
snigger1857
sniff1859
smile1860
smirk1879
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > laugh in specific manner [verb (transitive)] > utter with a chuckle
chuckle out1820
keckle1857
chortle1871
1820 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) II. v. 120 Whatever you praise to Jeffrey he directly chuckles out some error which you did not perceive.
1876 M. E. Braddon Joshua Haggard's Daughter III. 9 Ah, but they're all glad to get a husband..chuckled the farmer.
3. To cluck or cackle as a hen; also with complement (transitive) to call (together) with a chuckle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > sounds like animal or bird sounds > [verb (transitive)] > cluck
clocka1535
cluck1583
chuckle1690
society > authority > command > command or bidding > command [verb (transitive)] > summon > by other sound
beme1508
clocka1535
cluck1583
hist1645
chuckle1690
shrill1859
the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > hen or cock > [verb (intransitive)] > make sound (of hen)
clockOE
cacklec1230
chuckc1405
keckle1513
cluck1580
chuckle1690
clack1712
clucker1904
the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > hen or cock > [verb (transitive)] > call chickens (of hen)
clock?1440
chichc1450
cluck1481
chuckle1690
1690 J. Dryden Don Sebastian ii. ii. 41 If these Birds are within distance, here's that will chuckle 'em together.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Goose vii, in Poems (new ed.) I. 231 It clutter'd here, it chuckled there.
4. transitive. To express regret for by the inarticulate sound 'ts! 'ts!
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > disapprove of [verb (transitive)] > express disapproval of > by sound or exclamation
hootc1175
to clap out1550
explose?c1550
explode1563
hiss1598
exsibilate1601
to hum up, down1642
out-hiss1647
chuckle1681
catcall1700
scrape1773
groan1799
to get the (big) bird1825
boo1833
fie-fie1836
goose1838
sibilate1864
cluck1916
bird1927
slow handclap1949
tsk-tsk1966
tut1972
1681 J. Dryden Spanish Fryar ii. iv. 25 Your Confessor..must chucle you and moan you.
5. Applied to the gurgling sound made by water in coming out of a bottle.Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1866 A. C. Swinburne Poems & Ballads 305 As when water slips Out of a beak-mouthed vessel with faint noise And chuckles in the narrowed throat.
6. Curling. See quot. 1831.
ΚΠ
1831 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 30 971 To chuckle, a term used upon the Ayrshire ice, is to make a succession of in-wicks up a port to a certain object.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.11743adj.n.21721
v.1598