guffaw means A boisterous laugh. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 81 out of 100.
guffaw is pronounced /ɡəˈfɔː/.
Why “guffaw” is a great word
GUFFAW — [Noun/Verb] A loud, boisterous, and unrestrained burst of laughter, or to laugh in such a manner. Its etymology places its origin in the early 18th century, originally Scots, and is probably onomatopoeic, imitative of the sound of a hearty laugh. Unlike a chortle—a quiet, gleeful chuckle of satisfaction—or a snicker—a sly, stifled sound of derision—a guffaw is an open-throated eruption of unselfconscious mirth. It is the percussive blast across a tavern table, the seismic shake of a father's shoulders, the sound that cracks a solemn silence wide open; a brief, raucous triumph of the body over the mind's decorum.
noun
- A boisterous laugh.“On opening the little door, two hairy monsters flew at my throat, bearing me down, and extinguishing the light; while a mingled guffaw from Heathcliff and Hareton put the copestone on my rage and humiliation.”
verb
- To laugh boisterously.“He guffawed at his adversaries.”