sniggle
English
Etymology 1
From an alteration (perhaps due to giggle) of snigger, itself a variant of snicker.
Verb
sniggle (third-person singular simple present sniggles, present participle sniggling, simple past and past participle sniggled)
- To chortle or chuckle; snicker (often used in contempt).
Related terms
- sniggler (a person who sniggles)
Etymology 2
See snig (“a kind of eel”) + -le (frequentative verbal suffix).
Verb
sniggle (third-person singular simple present sniggles, present participle sniggling, simple past and past participle sniggled)
- (intransitive) To fish for eels by thrusting a baited hook into their dens.
- (transitive) To catch by this means.
- (transitive, figuratively) To ensnare.
Etymology 3
From an alteration of snag + -le.
Verb
sniggle (third-person singular simple present sniggles, present participle sniggling, simple past and past participle sniggled)
- (obsolete) To steal something of little value
References
- Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus 1993.
Anagrams
- eglings, gesling, gingles, leggins, niggles