Meaning of gargalesis | Babel Free

Definitions

Heavy tickling often leading to laughter.

uncountable

Examples

“Pending a better nomenclature we suggest for the former the term knismesis and for the latter the term gargalesis, with the adjectives knismic and gargalic, hyperknismesis and hyper-gargalesis for excess, etc.”

“Gargalesis, the heavy tickle associated with play and laughter and seemingly with pleasure, may be limited to the primates, but not solely to human beings.”

“The second type of tickle called gargalesis is evoked by a heavier touch to particular areas of the body such as armpits or ribs. Such kind of stimuli usually results in laugher and squirming.”

“2017, Etymologist Susie Dent, appearing on "Would I Lie To You" Series 11, Episode 4, broadcast on 11 December 2017. "My dad once broke my leg during a particularly vigorous bout of gargalesis... or the light kind which is called knismesis."”

CEFR level