Word of the Day – Gargalesis

Gargalesis (noun)

ga-ge-li-sis

Hard tickling, the laughter-inducing tickling, that involves the repeated application of high pressure to sensitive areas such as the feet or armpits.

Knismesis (gentle tickling) and gargalesis are the scientific terms, coined in 1897 by psychologists G. Stanley Hall and Arthur Allin.

Example sentences

“While tickling is fun, gargalesis can also be used as a power move, rendering the receiver unable to fight the tickler off.”