LAUGH, LAUGHING, LAUGHTER
(also see GIGGLE)
ADJECTIVES
1567 — RIANT smiling, laughing, mirthful, cheerful, gay
1609 — RIDENT radiantly cheerful; laughing, smiling, grinning
1620 — LAUGHSOME of persons: addicted to laughing, mirthful
1652 — RIDIBUNDAL inclined to laughter → obs.
..18C — ABDERIAN given to incessant or continued laughter; inclined to foolish or excessive merriment; foolish, silly
1704 — GELASTIC causing or related to laughter, risible
1731 — AGELASTIC never laughing; morose, gloomy → obs.
1748 — TITTERING giggling, laughing with suppressed mirth
1825 — LAUGHFUL full of laughing; mirthful
1828 — CACHINNATORY connected with loud or immoderate laughter
1837 — LAUGHY inclined to laugh → obs.
1846 — GAWFIN laughing loudly → Sc.
1848 — ON THE LAUGH laughing
1855 — RISORIAL inclined or given to laughter; producing laughter
1856 — IN FITS laughing → sl.
1892 — GAGGLING laughing affectedly, giggling → Sc.
1897 — GALDERING noisy, loud-talking, laughing loudly → Sc.
1898 — MISOGELASTIC hating laughter
1909 — RIDIBUND inclined to laughter; happy, lively
1917 — CHUCKLESOME adj. humorous, amusing; full of laughter → colloq.
1935 — IN STITCHES laughing uproariously → sl.
1940 — ROLLING IN THE AISLES laughing; orig. applied to an audience’s uncontrollable laughter → sl.
1947 — BOFFO loud; said of a laugh → US sl.
2001 — ANTITHALIAN disapproving of laughter or festivity (Bk.)
2006 — FRACTURED demolished by laughter → US sl. (Bk.)
ADVERBS
1822 — GAFFAWINGLY in a manner causing hearty laughter → Sc.
NOUNS
1500 — GAFF — GAWF a loud, boisterous laugh; a guffaw → Sc.
1593 — LAUGHING-PEAL a peal of laughter → obs.
1623 — CACHINNATION loud or immoderate laughter
1654 — TWITTERING a laughing, esp. in a somewhat suppressed or restrained manner, the sound of such laughter; tittering, giggling, sniggering
1685 — GAFFA — GAFFAW a loud laugh, a guffaw → Sc.
1700 — TWITTER a fit of laughter; a titter, a giggle → chiefly Eng. dial. & US
1703 — GAUSTER hearty, loud laughter → Eng. dial.
1725 — RIDICULOSITY ridiculousness; a ridiculous matter; anything that arouses laughter; a jest or joke → rare or arch.
1728 — TITTER a stifled laugh, a giggle
1734 — VEIN a fit of laughter → obs.
1754 — TITTERATION tittering, giggling
1797 — HYSTERICALS a bout of overwhelming, uncontrollable emotion or agitation, esp. as a result of acute distress; now usually: uncontrollable laughter
..19C — WERRICK a half-smothered laugh; a chuckle → Eng. dial.
1808 — NICKER a snigger; a soft suppressed laugh → Sc.
1819 — KECKLING noisy laughter; giddy conduct → Sc.
1820 — KECKLE a short, spasmodic laugh; a chuckle; a cackling, chattering → Sc.
1825 — SMIRKLE a smile; a smirk; a suppressed laugh → Sc.
1828 — GELOTOMETER a gauge for measuring laughter
1830 — NEIGHER a loud laugh → Sc.
1834 — HAW-HAW a loud or boisterous laugh; a guffaw
1834 — SNIRTLE a suppressed laugh; a sneer → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
1836 — GALDER a noisy vulgar laugh; a loud yell; noisy, foolish talk, chatter → Sc. & Eng. dial.
.M19 — HEE-HAW a loud, coarse laugh → sl.
1858 — TIFF a short outburst of laughter, etc.
1871 — SMUDGE a slight sign or indication of laughter, etc.
1880 — GAFTER a loud laugh → Sc.
1882 — SQUIRK a half-suppressed laugh; a sniggering
1892 — HEART-SHOT a burst of laughter; a hearty fit → Sc.
1894 — RASP a harsh laugh → Eng. dial.
1898 — CAHEEING loud laughter → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1898 — GALAFER — GALLAFER a prattling sound; a loud noise; a burst of laughter → Eng. dial.
1898 — GUFF a guffaw; a loud, sudden noise; a suppressed bark or snort → Sc.
..L19 — HA-HA — HAH-HAH a laugh of ridicule or derision → sl.
1900 — DITHER a suppressed outburst of laughter, etc. → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1904 — HYSTERICS uncontrollable laughter; a bout of uncontrollable laughter
1905 — HA-BA a roar of laughter; a shout; a blatant cry → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 — TICKLE BOX an imaginary organ of the body that causes uncontrollable laughter when turned over, tilted, or otherwise affected → Amer. dial.
1919 — KEECHLE — KEEGLE a short laugh → Sc.
1920 — BELLY-SHAKING LAUGH a deep, sonorous laugh → sl.
1921 — BELLY-LAUGH a deep reverberant laugh
1922 — YAW-HAW a loud or rude laugh
1938 — YOCK — YOK a laugh → theatrical sl., chiefly US
1942 — BOFF a hearty laugh → US sl. (Bk.)
1949 — BOFFOLA — BUFFOLA a laugh, esp. a deep, loud laugh; a belly laugh → US sl.
1951 — YACK — YAK a joke; a laugh → US sl.
1957 — HAR-DE-HAR-HAR used as a vocalisation mocking laughter → US sl.
1960 — JAZZ a cause for laughter → Amer. sl.
1962 — LAFF a laugh → UK sl.
1971 — YUCK — YUK a laugh → sl., chiefly US
1990 — CACK a laugh → Aust. sl.
1990 — TURKISH (BATH) a laugh → rhyming sl.
1992 — BOFFO a laugh → US sl.
2003 — KIFF-KAFF a modest, suppressed laugh → Trinidad and Tobago usage
NOUNS, PERSON
1340 — GIGLET — GIGLO — GIGLOT a merry, light-hearted, laughing, romping girl; a giddy, silly, thoughtless girl
1340 — HARLOT an itinerant jester, buffoon, or juggler; one who tells or does something to raise a laugh → obs.
1611 — GIGGLE a giggling, laughing, romping girl → obs.
1626 — AGELASTIC one who never laughs; one who is perpetually sad → obs.
1633 — GIGGLER one who giggles; one who bursts into laughter at the least trifle; one very much inclined to laughter
1800 — CACHINNATOR a loud or immoderate laugher →
1818 — GRIZZLEDEMUNDY a term of abuse applied to a person who laughs at any trifling thing; a grinning fool; a stupid oaf → Eng. dial.
1825 — GAWPIE a fool or simpleton, a stupid or silly person; one who gapes rudely; one who laughs without reason → Sc.
1828 — TITTERER one who laughs restrainedly; a giggler
1841 — GAFFAWER one who laughs loudly → Sc.
1847 — GER-LAUGHTERS persons who laughed extravagantly and noisily → obs. (Bk.)
1862 — GAFFAER a loud laugher → Sc.
1877 — AGELAST one who never laughs
1886 — GIGGLING-JENNY a child always laughing → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1891 — GIGGLET a laughing romp, a tomboy → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1950 — GELDER a person given to loud foolish laughter → Sc.
1988 — GIGGLING GERTY a woman given to giggling, or behaving in a silly, giggling manner → Aust. sl. (Bk.)
2006 — GIG a giggle; a bit of laughter → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
PHRASES
1922 — HAVE THEM ROLLING IN THE AISLES suggests a wildly enthusiastic reaction on the part of an audience, esp. uncontrollable laughter → colloq.
1927 — HAVE THEM BLEEDING IN THE AISLES suggests a wildly enthusiastic reaction on the part of an audience, esp. uncontrollable laughter → colloq.
VERBS
1225 — KENCH to laugh loudly → obs.
1275 — LAUGH SMERE to laugh lightly, merrily, or contemptuously → obs.
1513 — KECKLE of a person: to chuckle, to laugh, to giggle
1560 — LAUGH IN ONE’S SLEEVE to laugh to oneself; to nurse inward feelings of amusement
1590 — SMIRKLE to smirk or smile; to giggle; to laugh in a suppressed manner → Sc.
1598 — CHUCK to laugh → obs.
1619 — TITTER to laugh in a suppressed or covert way; to giggle
1654 — TWITTER to laugh in a somewhat suppressed or restrained way; to titter, to giggle, to snigger
1674 — GAUSTER — GOWSTER — GOYSTER to laugh noisily → Eng. dial.
1704 — SPLIT ONE’S SIDES to laugh heartily
1719 — GAFF — GAWF to laugh loudly and immoderately, to guffaw → Sc.
1721 — GAFFA — GAFFAW to laugh heartily or boisterously, to guffaw → Sc. obs.
1721 — GOYLTER to laugh aloud → Eng. dial. obs.
1746 — GRIZZLE to grin or laugh, esp. mockingly → Eng. dial.
1766 — GUFF to laugh immoderately at anything; to talk foolishly, to babble → Sc.
1782 — KICKLE to laugh in a high-pitched or silly manner; to giggle; to chuckle → Sc.
1785 — SNIRTLE to laugh in a quiet, suppressed, or restrained manner; to snigger; to sneer → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
1792 — GOVERN ONE’S MUSCLES to refrain from smiling or laughing, to keep a straight face → obs.
..19C — RUTTLE to laugh in a suppressed way → Eng. dial.
..19C — SQUINNY to laugh broadly; to smile or wink → Amer.
1808 — NICKER to laugh with a snickering sound, generally in a ridiculous manner; to snigger → Sc.
1808 — SMUDGE to laugh quietly or to oneself → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1824 — CACHINNATE to laugh loudly or immoderately
1825 — GAMF — GAMPH to be foolishly merry; to laugh loudly → Sc. obs.
1825 — GAMP to be foolishly merry, to laugh loudly; to mock, to mimic → Sc.
1825 — GULE to flout, to sneer; to laugh, to make fun of, to jeer, to boast → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1826 — NEIGHER to laugh loudly → Sc.
1834 — HAW-HAW to laugh loudly or boisterously
1835 — LAUGHIFY to laugh at; to create laughter at → Sc.
1836 — YAW-HAW to laugh rudely or noisily
1842 — FIND A HAW-HAW’S NEST WITH A TEE-HEE’S EGG IN IT to giggle and laugh immoderately or inappropriately → Amer. dial.
1856 — KILL to cause someone to laugh uproariously → UK sl.
1857 — HOTTER to shake with laughter → Sc.
1857 — YOCHA — YOCH-YAW to laugh → Eng. dial.
1866 — GALDER to laugh in a noisy, vulgar manner; to talk or sing boisterously; to speak in a loud, foolish manner; to bawl → Sc.
1880 — MUCKCOOK to laugh behind one’s back → Brit. sl.
1885 — GAGGLE to laugh immoderately; to cackle → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1885 — GOLDER to laugh in defiance; to laugh noisily → Eng. dial.
1887 — NEESTER to snigger, to laugh in a suppressed fashion → Sc.
1889 — GOFFEN to laugh like an idiot → Eng. dial.
1892 — WERRICK to give a half-smothered laugh; to chuckle → Eng. dial.
1893 — BLACKGUARD to laugh and talk gaily → Amer. dial.
1894 — CONTROL ONE’S MUSCLES to refrain from smiling or laughing, to keep a straight face → obs.
1895 — BREAK SOMEONE UP to cause to laugh → sl., orig. US theatrical sl., chiefly US
1896 — CONNIP to laugh violently → Amer. dial.
..L19 — GIVE SOMEONE THE HA-HA to laugh at, to ridicule and take advantage of → US sl.
..L19 — KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE to restrain oneself from laughing → sl.
..20C — LAUGH LIKE A CHIEF STOKER to laugh a raucous belly laugh → Royal Navy sl.
..20C — TAKE ONE’S END to be convulsed with laughter → Irish sl.
1900 — GAUMP to be foolishly merry, to laugh loudly; to mock, to mimic → Sc. (Bk.)
1901 — KECK to cackle, to laugh → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1902 — LAITCH to be gay; to laugh, to titter → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1904 — REIR to laugh → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 — TICHER to laugh in a suppressed way; to titter → Sc. (Bk.)
1905 — UDGE — URGE to shake convulsively with laughter, etc. → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 — YOFFA to laugh → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1910 — BREAK ONE’S FARTING STRING to lose control of one’s self and burst into hysterical laughing → sl.
1910 — BREAK ONE’S PUCKERING STRING to lose control of one’s self and burst into hysterical laughing → sl.
1910 — GEEK to mock, to jeer, to laugh at → Ireland (Bk.)
1910 — PEE ONESELF LAUGHING to laugh very heartily and/or long → sl.
1917 — FIND A TEE-HEE’S NEST FULL OF HA-HA EGGS to giggle and laugh immoderately or inappropriately → Amer. dial.
1917 — FIND A TEE-HEE’S NEST WITH A HA-HA’S EGG IN IT to giggle and laugh immoderately or inappropriately → Amer. dial.
1917 — FIND A TEHEE’S EGG IN A HAHA’S NEST to giggle and laugh immoderately or inappropriately → Amer. dial.
1921 — BUST ONE’S BUTTONS to strain one’s clothing by laughing too hard; to laugh very hard → Amer. dial.
1922 — CREASE to laugh uncontrollably; to collapse with laughter → Brit colloq.
1927 — SLAY to overwhelm someone with delight, often convulsing them with laughter; to cause to laugh convulsively → sl.
1928 — LAY THEM IN THE AISLES to get a wildly enthusiastic reaction, esp. uncontrollable laughter, on the part of an audience
1931 — CACKLE to burst out laughing → Amer. sl.
1935 — HAVE SOMEONE IN STITCHES to make them laugh uproariously → sl.
1936 — SPLIT A GUT to hurt oneself by laughing too hard; to laugh hard → Amer. sl.
1938 — YOCK — YOK to laugh → theatrical sl., chiefly US
1940 — LAUGH LIKE A BROKEN HINGE to laugh uproariously → sl.
1942 — CRACK UP to be highly amused; to laugh uncontrollably → sl., orig US
1942 — GET THE BOFF to provoke laughter, to receive a good audience response → US sl. (Bk.)
1946 — FALL OUT to burst out laughing; to be tickled by something funny → Amer. dial.
1946 — FRACTURE to cause to laugh convulsively or with great amusement → sl., orig. theatrical usage
1948 — LAUGH LIKE A DRAIN to chuckle or laugh heartily; to guffaw → UK sl.
1950 — BURST ONE’S BUTTONS to strain one’s clothing by laughing too hard; to laugh very hard → Amer. dial.
1950 — BUST A GUSSET to break out laughing; to laugh very hard → Amer. dial.
1950 — BUST A GUT to hurt oneself by laughing too hard; to laugh very hard → Amer. dial.
1950 — EXPLODE to suddenly burst forth in laughter → Amer. dial.
1950 — SPLIT A GUSSET to break out laughing; to laugh very hard → Amer. dial.
1950 — SPORTIFY to make people laugh, to amuse → W. Indies
1950 — YACK — YAK to laugh → sl.
1951 — PISS ONESELF to laugh so much that one urinates involuntarily → sl.
1953 — CRACK ONE’S SIDE(S) to hurt oneself with violent laughter → Amer. dial.
1956 — KILL ONESELF to laugh → sl.
1959 — FALL OUT LAUGHING to break up with mirth → Amer. sl.
1960 — LAUGH ALL OVER ONESELF to laugh unrestrainedly → Amer. dial.
1965 — BURST A GUT to hurt oneself by laughing too hard; to laugh very hard → Amer. dial.
1965 — CRACK A GUT to hurt oneself with violent laughter → Amer. dial.
1965 — CRACK A RIB to hurt oneself with violent laughter → Amer. dial.
1966 — CRACK SOMEONE UP to cause to laugh → sl., orig. & chiefly US
1966 — HAVE A HAIRY COW to have a laughing fit → US students’ sl. (Bk.)
1967 — BURST A HAME STRING — BUST A HAME STRING to laugh very hard → Amer. dial.
1967 — FALL ABOUT to collapse in laughter; to laugh immoderately → sl., orig. US
1967 — PLOTZ to laugh very hard; to split one’s seams, to die from laughter, etc. → Amer. dial.
1969 — BUST A TRACE to laugh very hard → Amer. dial.
1969 — BUST A TUG to laugh very hard → Amer. dial.
1969 — GO OFF ONE’S FACE to collapse with laughter → sl.
1970 — LAUGH ONE’S ASS OFF to laugh uproariously → sl.
1970 — WET ONESELF to laugh so much that one urinates involuntarily → sl.
1974 — YUCK — YUK to laugh → sl., chiefly Amer.
1975 — SNAP to laugh; to mock or tease → US sl. (Bk.)
1977 — CREASE — CREASE UP to laugh uncontrollably; to collapse with laughter → sl.
1980 — BAG UP to laugh very hard at something → African-American sl.
1980 — HOOP IT UP to laugh, to cackle → US sl.
1981 — BREAK UP to collapse with laughter → Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
1987 — CACK ONESELF — CACK ONESELF (LAUGHING) to laugh uncontrollably → Aust. sl.
1990 — CACK to joke, to have a laugh, to laugh → Aust. & US sl.
1996 — LAUGH YOUR TITS OFF to laugh a great deal → UK sl.
1997 — LAFF to laugh → UK sl.
2000 — BOBBLE HAT (AND SCARF) to laugh → UK sl.
2000 — LAUGH YOUR NUTS OFF to laugh uproariously → UK sl.
2001 — LAUGH YOUR BOLLOCKS OFF to laugh uproariously → UK sl.
2006 — HOWL to laugh very hard → US sl. (Bk.)
2007 — BUBBLE-BATH to laugh → UK sl. (Bk.)