Tickle \Tic"kle\, 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. chizzil[=o]n, chuzzil[=o]n, 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 dengerous if too long protracted.

If you tickle us, do we not laugh? --Shak.

2. To please; to gratify; to make joyous.

Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw. --Pope.

Such a nature Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow Which he treads on at noon. --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)