Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
3,587,358,540 visitors served.
forum Join the Word of the Day Mailing List For webmasters
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

chortle

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
chor·tle  (chôrtl)
n.
A snorting, joyful laugh or chuckle.
intr. & tr.v. chor·tled, chor·tling, chor·tles
To utter a chortle or express with a chortle.

[Blend of chuckle and snort.]

chortler n.
Word History: "'O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy." Perhaps Lewis Carroll would chortle a bit himself to find that people are still using the word chortle, which he coined in Through the Looking-Glass, published in 1872. In any case, Carroll had constructed his word well, combining the words chuckle and snort. This type of word is called a blend or a portmanteau word. In Through the Looking-Glass Humpty Dumpty uses portmanteau to describe the word slithy, saying, "It's like a portmanteauthere are two meanings packed up into one word" (the meanings being "lithe" and "slimy").

chortle [ˈtʃɔːtəl]
vb
(intr) to chuckle gleefully
n
a gleeful chuckle
[coined (1871) by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking-glass; probably a blend of chuckle + snort]
chortler  n

chortle - Probably a blend of chuckle and snort, coined by Lewis Carroll.
See also related terms for snort.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.chortle - a soft partly suppressed laugh
laugh, laughter - the sound of laughing
Verb1.chortle - laugh quietly or with restraint
express joy, express mirth, laugh - produce laughter

chortle
verb
chuckle, laugh, cackle, guffaw He began chortling like an idiot.
noun
chuckle, laugh, cackle, guffaw The old man broke into a wheezy chortle of amusement.
Translations
chortle [ˈtʃɔːtl]
A. Nrisa f alegre
B. VIreírse alegremente
to chortle over sthreírse satisfecho por algo
chortle [ˈtʃɔːrtəl] viglousser
chortle
vigluckern, glucksen; he was chortling over the articleer lachte in sich hinein or vor sich hin, als er den Artikel las
nGluckser m
chortle [ˈtʃɔːtl] viridacchiare, fare risolini


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Feedback
Add definition
Mentioned in?  References in periodicals archive?   Dictionary browser?   Full browser?
 
Among his cronies, of course, he'll be hailed as the man who sorted out his wife's nonsense in double-quick time, while her mates are having a quiet chortle.
People may chortle when the term 'parenting skills' is mentioned, but anyone who has brought up a child knows it takes considerable time, patience and skill.
Francophiles will chortle with delight, and no doubt nostalgia, as they study the Hobbsian drawings that are equally French in flavour.
 
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Terms of Use | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2012 Farlex, Inc.
Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.