v. 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, v. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

If you tickle us, do we not laugh? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To please; to gratify; to make joyous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such a nature
Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To feel titillation. [ 1913 Webster ]

He with secret joy therefore
Did tickle inwardly in every vein. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To excite the sensation of titillation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Ticklish; easily tickled. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Liable to change; uncertain; inconstant. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The world is now full tickle, sikerly. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

So tickle is the state of earthy things. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Wavering, or liable to waver and fall at the slightest touch; unstable; easily overthrown. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Uncertain; inconstant; slippery. [ Obs. & R. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A coarse, mixed linen fabric made to be sold in the West Indies. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Unsteadiness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

For hoard hath hate, and climbing tickleness. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, tickles. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Something puzzling or difficult. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A book containing a memorandum of notes and debts arranged in the order of their maturity. [ Com. Cant, U. S. ] Bartlett. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A prong used by coopers to extract bungs from casks. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Sensible to slight touches; easily tickled; as, the sole of the foot is very ticklish; the hardened palm of the hand is not ticklish. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Standing so as to be liable to totter and fall at the slightest touch; unfixed; easily affected; unstable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Can any man with comfort lodge in a condition so dismally ticklish? Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Difficult; nice; critical; as, a ticklish business. [ 1913 Webster ]

Surely princes had need, in tender matters and ticklish times, to beware what they say. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Tic"klish*ly, adv. -- Tic"klish*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]