Sidesplitters

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of joke or humorous story that induces uncontrollable laughter
2. Something particularly funny that elicits a strong emotional response through wit or absurdity
3. Jokes or anecdotes crafted to provoke extreme amusement or hilarity

Etymology: "Sidesplitters" is the plural of "sidesplitter," a compound of "side" and "splitter." The image is physical: a joke so funny that it seems to break your ribs or split your sides with laughter. The "splitter" element comes from the verb "split," which in English has long meant to divide something into parts, so a splitter is a thing that splits. Combined with "side," meaning the flank of the body, the compound describes something that makes you laugh until your sides ache.