chuck´ling|ly

chuck|le¹ «CHUHK uhl», verb, -led, -ling, noun.

–v.i.

1. to laugh to oneself: »

Father always chuckles when he reads the funny papers.

2. Figurative. to laugh in an easy, amused manner, with a degree of satisfaction.

3. to cluck, as a fowl does.

–n.

1. a soft laugh; quiet laughter.

2. the act or sound of chuckling.

╂[probably < chuck³, in an earlier sense “laugh” + -le (frequentative)]

–chuck´ler, noun.

–chuck´ling|ly, adverb.

chuck|le² «CHUHK uhl», adjective.

big and clumsy; blockish (applied contemptuously, especially to the head).

╂[perhaps < chuck²]