giecheln

The exact development is uncertain, but ultimately of imitative origin.

Compare Dutch giechelen, kakelen, and gakken. Compare also Middle Low German gîgelen (“to play the fiddle”), Middle High German gickelen (“to mock, make fun of”), Old High German kichezzen (“to laugh”), Old High German irgickezzen (“to shout, shriek”) (whence modern German gicksen).

giecheln

1. to giggle