chuck·le (chŭk'əl)
intr.v., -led, -ling, -les.

1. To laugh quietly or to oneself.
2. To cluck or chuck, as a hen.

n.
A quiet laugh of mild amusement or satisfaction.

[Probably frequentative of CHUCK³ .]

chuckler chuck'ler n.
chucklesome chuck'le·some adj.
chucklingly chuck'ling·ly (-lĭng-lē) adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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