Snirtling

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Laughing quietly and in a half-suppressed manner, usually through the nose or behind a hand
2. Giggling in a stifled, muffled way as someone tries hard not to be heard laughing
3. Chuckling in a restrained, breathy fashion while struggling to hold back a fit of mirth

Etymology: "Snirtling" is the present participle of "snirtle," a verb meaning to snicker or giggle in a suppressed way, trying to hold back laughter. The verb is built from "snirt," a word for a stifled laugh or snort of amusement, with the suffix "-le," which English uses to form frequentative verbs, words describing repeated or continued action. So "snirtle" is essentially a repeated or lingering form of the laugh behind it, the kind of muffled, keep-it-in giggling that breaks out in a church pew or a solemn meeting. The suffix does the same work in older English words such as "sparkle," which is a repeated form of "spark," and "twinkle," a repetition of the idea in "twink." Those examples show the pattern, and "snirtle" fits it neatly: a short burst of sound stretched into a fidgety, repeated struggle to contain it.

Synonyms: snickering, giggling, tittering, sniggering