titter
[ tit-er ]
/ ˈtɪt ər /
verb (used without object)
to laugh in a restrained, self-conscious, or affected way, as from nervousness or in ill-suppressed amusement.
noun
a tittering laugh.
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Origin of titter
1610–20; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse tittra to quiver, Swedish (dial.) tittra to giggle
Related formstit·ter·er, nountit·ter·ing·ly, adverbun·tit·ter·ing, adjective
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for titter
British Dictionary definitions for titter
titter
/ (ˈtɪtə) /
verb
(intr) to snigger, esp derisively or in a suppressed way
(tr) to express by tittering
noun
a suppressed laugh, chuckle, or snigger
Derived Formstitterer, nountittering, adjectivetitteringly, adverb
Word Origin for titter
C17: of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for titter
titter
1610s, "giggle in a suppressed or covert way," probably of imitative origin. Related: Tittered; tittering. The noun is first recorded 1728.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper