Snirtle – definition: to snicker mockingly
I absolutely love this word and will have to find lots of occasions to use it. I think everyone needs this word in their personal lexicon. It is both a noun and a verb. It is a soft, suppressed laugh, a soft snortle (itself a reduced snort) or shortened snigger. Therefore, a snort is greater than a snortle, which is greater than a snirtle.
Snirtle was used by Robbie Burns in 1785 The Jolly Beggars : A Cantata
Wi’ ghastly e’e poor tweedle-dee
Upon his hunkers bended,
An’ pray’d for grace wi’ ruefu’ face,
An’ so the quarrel ended.
But tho’ his little heart did grieve
When round the tinkler prest her,
He feign’d to snirtle in his sleeve,
When thus the caird address’d her
Do you have favorite words? What are they?
While investigating the word, I came across these cute pictures at Deviant Art by Tazworth (Shauna) – aren’t they awesome?
Which is your favorite?
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