the word 'tickle' emerged in middle english as tikelen, a word whose precise origins are obscure but suggestive of onomatopoeic or imitative qualities, perhaps echoing light, repetitive touching. it is possibly related to, or influenced by, the middle low german tickeln. the formation is characteristic of a frequentative verb, indicating a repeated or iterative action, which perfectly captures the light, repeated pokes or strokes involved in tickling. from this concrete physical action, the meaning naturally extended in the late 16th century to the more abstract sense of pleasing or amusing someone's fancy, as if lightly stimulating their mind or emotions.

the word 'tickle' is considered an unsegmentable simplex. it is a word of middle english origin, likely of frequentative formation, and its ultimate origin is uncertain but may be imitative or related to old english or middle low german words for 'to tickle'.