Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Heavy tickling often leading to laughter.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • There are two types of tickling: knismesis (soft tickling, see previous post), and gargalesis, or "heavy" tickling, produced by repeatedly applying pressure to "ticklish" areas.

    Archive 2009-04-01 Heather McDougal 2009

  • It's been suggested that gargalesis tickling is a way for the touch of the parent to be associated with pleasure, developing a trust-bond "so that parents may touch a child, in an unpleasant way, should circumstances develop such as the need to treat a painful injury or prevent harm from danger."

    Archive 2009-04-01 Heather McDougal 2009

  • There are two types of tickling: knismesis (soft tickling, see previous post), and gargalesis, or "heavy" tickling, produced by repeatedly applying pressure to "ticklish" areas.

    Tickle, tickle (part 2) Heather McDougal 2009

  • It's been suggested that gargalesis tickling is a way for the touch of the parent to be associated with pleasure, developing a trust-bond "so that parents may touch a child, in an unpleasant way, should circumstances develop such as the need to treat a painful injury or prevent harm from danger."

    Tickle, tickle (part 2) Heather McDougal 2009

Comments

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  • JM has never been a fancier of gargalesis.

    October 17, 2009

  • knismesis and gargalesis are the scientific terms, coined in 1897 by psychologists G. Stanley Hall and Arthur Allin, used to describe the two types of tickling. Knismesis refers to the light, feather-like type of tickling. This type of tickling generally does not induce laughter and is often accompanied by an itching sensation.

    April 15, 2016