horselaugh

[hawrs-laf, -lahf]

noun

1. a loud, coarse laugh, especially of derision.

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a horselaugh.

Other Word Forms

• horselaughter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of horselaugh¹

First recorded in 1705–15; horse + laugh

Example Sentences

For Hastings’ heirs to try to whitewash it as though he’s a victim of cancel culture through this ridiculous lawsuit is worth a horselaugh.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Presently she said, “I’ll tell you what that reporter’s after. He wants to get the horselaugh on us because he thinks we’re nothing but a bunch of hayseeds and no-’count country people.

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Unlike Mrs. Clinton’s ungainly joke to the same effect—“What, like with a cloth or something?”—Fallon’s comment provoked horselaughs.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The conductor stared, and the passengers set up a horselaugh.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Oh, sure, I gave the Hunters a big horselaugh yesterday.

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