chortle
Other forms: chortled; chortling; chortles
A chortle is a joyful, partly muffled laugh. If you have a toddler, you will recognize the sound of a delighted chortle, sort of louder and a bit more raucous than a giggle.
In 1871, Lewis Carroll, who wrote Alice in Wonderland, coined the word chortle in the poem "Jabberwocky," about a son who slays a monster and comes back to his relieved and happy father: "'O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy." Experts consider the word a blend of the words chuckle and snort and the laugh itself is also a cross between the two. You may chortle in glee if you find out your work nemesis just got a new job in another office — out of state.
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a soft partly suppressed laugh
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laugh quietly or with restraintsynonyms: chuckle, laugh softly
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Vocabulary lists containing chortle
On his eleventh birthday, orphan Harry Potter learns the shocking truth: he's a wizard about to begin his education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Rejoice! When it comes to expressing how people talk when they're happy, there are lots of cheerful choices to use instead of "said". So learn these words from the lexicon of laughter and good vibes, and you’ll be glad you did!
Learn these essential words that you'll encounter in literature, textbooks, class discussions, and more.