chortle

noun

1. A joyful, somewhat muffled laugh, rather like a snorting chuckle.

   “He frequently interrupted himself with chortles while he told us his favorite joke.”

2. A similar sounding vocalisation of various birds.

verb

1. (intransitive)To laugh with a chortle or chortles.

   “The old fellow chortled as he recalled his youthful adventures.”

   “'O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy.”