▪ I. sniggering, vbl. n.
(ˈsnɪgərɪŋ)
[f. snigger v.1]
The action of the vb.; half-suppressed laughter.
| 1775 Ash Dict., Sniggering,..a silly kind of laugh. 1779 F. Burney Diary Oct., I..had been obliged to turn my head another way, that my sniggering might not sooner make him see his mistake. 1823 [see snigger v.1 1 c]. 1865 Sat. Rev. 4 Mar. 245 The sniggering of everybody around one over indecorous inuendos. 1876 Freeman in Stephens Life (1895) II. viii. 144 The sniggering only shows what a move it was. |
▪ II. ˈsniggering, ppl. a.
[f. as prec.]
1. Of the nature of, accompanied or characterized by, a snigger or sniggers.
| 1793 in W. Roberts Looker-on No. 54 (1794) II. 312 Hip here, jade, and bring with thee Jokes and sniggering jollity. 1876 World V. 21 The writer's innuendoes and sniggering asides..are coarse and disgusting. 1882 Besant All Sorts 44 You saw his sniggerin', sneerin' way with me. |
2. That sniggers; snickering.
| 1815 Sporting Mag. XLVI. 68 No doubt there is plenty of gaping and sniggering fools who will say [etc.]. 1860 Dickens in All Year Round 5 May 87/1 The aunt and nephew in this City church are much disturbed by the sniggering boys. 1887 Hall Caine Deemster x, He had almost lifted his hand to fell the sniggering waistrel. |
Hence ˈsniggeringly adv.
| 1886 Jerome Idle Th. 111 Glancing round with an imbecile smile, you sniggeringly observe that [etc.]. |