Tickle

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪkÉ™l

Origin

Middle English tikelen, related to Old English tinclian ("to tickle"). Cognate with North Frisian "tigele" (Hallig dialect), and "tiikle" (Amrum dialect).

Full definition of tickle

Noun

1. The act of tickling.
2. A feeling resembling the result of tickling.I have a persistent tickle in my throat.
3. (Newfoundland) A narrow strait.
• 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society 2011, p. 169:Cow Head itself is a prominent headland connected to the settlement by a natural causeway, or ‘tickle’ as the Newfoundlanders prefer it.

Verb

1. (transitive) To touch repeatedly or stroke delicately in a manner which causes the recipient to feel a usually pleasant sensation of tingling or titillation.He tickled Nancy's tummy, and she started to giggle.
• ShakespeareIf you tickle us, do we not laugh?
2. (intransitive, of a body part) To feel as if the body part in question is being tickled.My nose tickles, and I'm going to sneeze!
3. (transitive) To appeal to someone's taste, curiosity etc.
4. (transitive) To cause delight or amusement in.He was tickled to receive such a wonderful gift.
• Alexander PopePleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw.
• ShakespeareSuch a nature
  Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow
  Which he treads on at noon.
5. (intransitive) To feel titillation.
• SpenserHe with secret joy therefore
  Did tickle inwardly in every vein.

Derived terms

Adjective

1. Changeable, capricious; insecure.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.4:So ticle be the termes of mortall state,
  And full of subtile sophismes, which do play
  With double senses, and with false debate ....

Anagrams

• Keltic