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To laugh in the sleeve

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Laugh \Laugh\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Laughed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Laughing}.] [OE. laughen, laghen, lauhen, AS. hlehhan,
   hlihhan, hlyhhan, hliehhan; akin to OS. hlahan, D. & G.
   lachen, OHG. hlahhan, lahhan, lahh?n, Icel. hl[ae]ja. Dan.
   lee, Sw. le, Goth. hlahjan; perh. of imitative origin.]
   1. To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar
      movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the
      mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and
      usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or
      chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in
      laughter.

            Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o'er. --Shak.

            He laugheth that winneth.             --Heywood's
                                                  Prov.

   2. Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful,
      lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.

            Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets
            crowned.                              --Dryden.

            In Folly's cup still laughs the bubble Joy. --Pope.

   {To laugh at}, to make an object of laughter or ridicule; to
      make fun of; to deride.

            No wit to flatter left of all his store, No fool to
            laugh at, which he valued more.       --Pope.

   {To laugh in the sleeve}

Sleeve \Sleeve\, n. [OE. sleeve, sleve, AS. sl?fe, sl?fe; akin
   to sl?fan to put on, to clothe; cf. OD. sloove the turning up
   of anything, sloven to turn up one's sleeves, sleve a sleeve,
   G. schlaube a husk, pod.]
   1. The part of a garment which covers the arm; as, the sleeve
      of a coat or a gown. --Chaucer.

   2. A narrow channel of water. [R.]

            The Celtic Sea, called oftentimes the Sleeve.
                                                  --Drayton.

   3. (Mach.)
      (a) A tubular part made to cover, sustain, or steady
          another part, or to form a connection between two
          parts.
      (b) A long bushing or thimble, as in the nave of a wheel.
      (c) A short piece of pipe used for covering a joint, or
          forming a joint between the ends of two other pipes.

   {Sleeve button}, a detachable button to fasten the wristband
      or cuff.

   {Sleeve links}, two bars or buttons linked together, and used
      to fasten a cuff or wristband.

   {To laugh in the sleeve}, to laugh privately or unperceived,
      especially while apparently preserving a grave or serious
      demeanor toward the person or persons laughed at; that is,
      perhaps, originally, by hiding the face in the wide
      sleeves of former times.

   {To pin}, or {hang}, {on the sleeve of}, to be, or make,
      dependent upon.
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