Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Tickle
Tic′kle
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Tickled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Tickling
.] [Perhaps freq. of ]
tick
to beat; pat; but cf. also AS. citelian
to tickle, D. kittelen
, G. kitzlen
, OHG. chizzilōn
, chuzzilōn
, Icel. kitla
. Cf. Kittle
, Verb.
T.
1.
To touch lightly, so as to produce a peculiar thrilling sensation, which commonly causes laughter, and a kind of spasm which become dangerous if too long protracted.
If you
tickle
us, do we not laugh? Shakespeare
2.
To please; to gratify; to make joyous.
Pleased with a rattle,
tickled
with a straw. Pope.
Such a nature
Which he treads on at noon.
Tickled
with good success, disdains the shadowWhich he treads on at noon.
Shakespeare
Tic′kle
,Verb.
I.
1.
To feel titillation.
He with secret joy therefore
Did
Did
tickle
inwardly in every vein. Spenser.
2.
To excite the sensation of titillation.
Shak.
Tic′kle
,Adj.
1.
Ticklish; easily tickled.
[Obs.]
2.
Liable to change; uncertain; inconstant.
[Obs.]
The world is now full
tickle
, sikerly. Chaucer.
So
tickle
is the state of earthy things. Spenser.
3.
Wavering, or liable to waver and fall at the slightest touch; unstable; easily overthrown.
[Obs.]
Thy head stands so
tickle
on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Tickle
TICK'LE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To touch lightly and cause a peculiar thrilling sensation, which cannot be described. A slight sensation of this kind may give pleasure, but when violent it is insufferable.2.
To please by slight gratification. A glass of wine may tickle the palate. Such a nature
Tickled with good success.
TICK'LE
,Verb.
I.
He with secret joy therefore
Did tickle inwardly in every vein.
TICK'LE
,Adj.
Thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if in love, may sign it off.
The state of Normandy
Stands on a tickle point.
[This word is wholly obsolete, at least in N. England. Ticklish is the word used.]