giggle

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   laugh nervously

   The girls giggled when the rock star came into the classroom

2. 2
   verb

   To laugh gently in a playful, nervous, or affected manner.

   The jokes had them giggling like little girls all evening.

3. 3
   noun

   A high-pitched, silly laugh.

   My audience to this not-too-easy operation was a small group of Scottish school lasses, who seemed (perhaps naturally) to find the proceedings somewhat mysterious, but at any rate amusing. I wished they would go away, but they didn't, so I had to get on with the job to the accompaniment of a background of giggles!

4. 4
   noun

   Fun; an amusing episode.

   We put itching powder down his shirt for giggles.

5. 5
   noun

   a foolish or nervous laugh

Etymology

Early 16th century, probably of imitative origin. Or, perhaps a frequentative based on dialectal English gig (“to creak”), from Middle English gigen (“to make a creaking sound”) + -le; or perhaps of Dutch or Low German origin: compare Saterland Frisian güüchelje (“to giggle”), West Frisian giechelje (“to giggle”), Dutch giechelen (“to giggle”), German Low German giecheln (“to giggle”), dialectal German giggln, gigglen (“to giggle”), German gickeln (“to giggle”). All of these words are likely onomatopoeic as well. Also compare Alemannic German Guege (“fiddle”).