[f. CHUCKLE v.1]
1. An act of chuckling; a laugh of triumph and exultation: formerly applied to a loud laugh, but now chiefly to a suppressed and inarticulate sound by which exultation is shown.
a. 1754. Fielding, Charac. Men, Wks. 1784, IX. 411. That honest, hearty, loud chuckle, which shakes the sides of aldermen and squires.
1820. Keats, Isabel, lxii. With melodious chuckle in the strings Of her low voice.
1841. Miall, in Nonconf., I. 242. Enjoy your chuckle, gentlemen.
1842. H. Rogers, Ess., I. i. 38. As different … as the innocent laugh of childhood from the malignant chuckle of a demon.
1863. Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., viii. 201. She is in a perpetual chuckle of merry malice.
1869. Trollope, He knew, etc. vi. With a whistle … and a little low chuckle of laughter.
b. Chuckling, exultation, glee.
1837. Syd. Smith, Let. Archd. Singleton, Wks. 1859, II. 284/2. Viscount Melbourne, in high chuckle.
1883. E. Pennell-Elmhirst, Cream Leicestersh., 83. A great source of chuckle … to the agriculturists of the district.
2. The call of some birds to their young; the cluck or cackle of a hen.
1773. Barrington, Singing of Birds, in Phil. Trans., LXIII. 255. The nestling linnet retained the call of its own species, or what the bird-catchers call the linnet’s chuckle, from some resemblance to that word when pronounced.
