chortle
UKˈtʃɔː.təlUSˈtʃɔːr.təl
Meaning
1v
To laugh with amusement or delight.
2n
An amused or delighted laugh.
Structure
Probable blend
chucklelaugh quietlysnorta sharp nasal sound
Usage
He began to chortle at the unexpected reply.
She chortled when she read the joke.
Etymology
Lewis Carroll coined chortle in Through the Looking-Glass. It is often interpreted as a blend of chuckle and snort, though that explanation is not certain.
Analysis
A probable blend, not a prefix-and-suffix equation. Chortled is its past-tense form, with the same origin.