Guffaw

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ɡəˈfɔː/
• US IPA: /ɡəˈfÉ”/
• (AU/NZ) IPA: /ɡəˈfoː/Rhymes: , (for non-rhotic accents)

Origin

Probably onomatopoetic.

Full definition of guffaw

Noun

1. A boisterous laugh
• Bronte Wuthering|IIOn opening the little door, two hairy monsters flew at my throat, bearing me down, and extinguishing the light; while a mingled guffaw from Heathcliff and Hareton put the copestone on my rage and humiliation.
• 1906, Arthur Conan Doyle, , ch. xx,He walked to the edge and they heard his hoarse guffaw of laughter as the arrows clanged and clattered against his impenetrable mail.
• 1936, Robert E. Howard, , ch. 15,He heaved up with a sulfurous curse, braced his legs and glared about him, with a burst of coarse guffaws in his ears and the reek of unwashed bodies in his nostrils.

Synonyms

• (boisterous laugh) belly laugh

Verb

1. (intransitive) To laugh boisterously.
• 1891, Oscar Wilde, , ch. 15,He guffawed at his adversaries.
• 1900, Stephen Crane, ,Peter, on the contrary, threw back his head and guffawed thunderously.

Synonyms