Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “snicker” come from?

Snicker is a dialectal variant of snigger, both of uncertain origin, with forms alternating in English usage since at least the 17th century.

snicker (English): A stifled or broken laugh; To emit a snicker, a...

Definitions

  1. A stifled or broken laugh; To emit a snicker, a...

Ancestry of “snicker”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
2Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
3Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
4Latin-āre—
5Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
6Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
7Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-—
9Chichewaiyehe, she

Words derived from “snicker”

  • snicker
  • snickering
  • snigger
  • sniggering
  • sniggle
  • sniggeringly
  • sniggler
  • sniggerer
  • snickle
  • sniggery
  • snickerer
  • snickeringly
  • sniggersome
Every word from Chichewa iye →