Chortle

chortle [ CHAWR-tl ]
[ noun, verb ]

MEANING :
1. (v.) to chuckle gleefully
2. (v.) to express one's happiness with a gleeful chuckle
3. (n.) a gleeful chuckle

USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
The children chortled when they saw the antics of the clown.

USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
During the rest of the speech, Mr Wilson consulted his BlackBerry on more than one occasion and joined in repeated Republican jeers, sarcastic chortles and waving bits of paper that by themselves breached protocol for joint sessions, when the House of Representatives and the Senate assemble to listen to the head of state.