Laugh shrilly (6) Crossword Clue
Answer: CACKLE (6 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Laugh shrilly" with 6 letters is "CACKLE".Cackle refers to a loud, shrill laugh, often associated with mockery or mischief. It is a distinctive, harsh laugh that can sound unsettling or high-pitched, commonly heard in both humans and some animals, often in moments of excitement or glee.
Why "Cackle" Fits
The clue asks for a single word (6 letters) meaning "laugh shrilly." The answer, CACKLE, fits perfectly:
- Laugh shrilly: Cackle is the verb for laughing loudly and harshly, usually in a high-pitched, unrestrained, or shrill manner—exactly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: With six letters, cackle fits the enumeration precisely.
- Precise meaning: The word evokes the sound associated with wild laughter, famously attributed to witches or groups bursting out in shrill mirth.
Cackle is a vivid, onomatopoeic word that describes both laughter and animal sounds:
Origin and usage:
- Dates to Middle English, from Old English cakelen, imitative in origin to mimic the sound of geese or hens.
- Used for the loud, clucking noises made by birds, and metaphorically for shrill, boisterous laughter in people.
Descriptive context:
Often carries a playful or negative connotation, suggesting a lack of restraint or a slightly menacing undertone.
In literature, cackling is used to portray witches, comic villains, or anyone enjoying a wicked joke.
Examples:
- “She cackled with glee at the punchline.”
- “The hens cackle every morning after laying an egg.”
- “The old woman’s cackle echoed through the haunted cottage.”
In quick crosswords like “Laugh shrilly (6),” clues for sounds or expressions often point directly to unique, onomatopoeic verbs:
Definition: The clue seeks a strong sound word for a particular kind of laugh—cackle is famous for this, especially compared to giggle, snicker, chuckle.
Clue type: Direct, sound-based verb.
Solving approach:
- Look for stand-out sound words for distinctive laughter with six letters; cackle fits both the enumeration and shrillness.
Crossword pattern: Onomatopoeic verbs, such as cackle, giggle, snicker, are favorites for their fun, recognizable sounds.
