chortle

chortle Definition

chor·tle (c̸hôrt′'l)

intransitive verb, transitive verb -·tled, -·tling

to make, or utter with, a gleeful chuckling or snorting sound

Etymology: coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass, prob. chuckle + snort

noun

such a sound

chortle Related Forms

chor′·tler noun

chortle Synonyms

chortle Usage Examples

Converse of object

have: I don't imagine for a moment that their prime motive is humanitarian, but I had a little chortle, too.
post: HazelHumph Replies: 18 Views: 652 Forum: Chortle Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:30 pm Subject: 24 Fringe Blogs?
give: She gave a mighty chortle and said: " I'm gob-smacked.

Preposition: at

thought: Dangerfield chortled at the thought of Solo, frustratingly trying to piece together a complex Meccano model.

Adjective modifier

good: Even the top medical scientists now claim that a good chortle has an enormous effect on the way we live our lives.

Modifies a noun

award: Daniel Kitson, Will Smith ( pictured ) and Alun Cochrane lead the running in this year's Chortle live comedy awards.

Modifying Another Word

away: Mr McMuffin finds the idea of making money from the internet endlessly amusing, you should hear him chortling away.
generally: She also did some drawing when she woke up, and generally chortled.

Followed by an intransitive particle

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