Laugh·ing a. & n. from Laugh, v. i.
 Laughing falcon Zool., a South American hawk (Herpetotheres cachinnans); -- so called from its notes, which resemble a shrill laugh.
 Laughing gas Chem., nitrous oxide, also called hyponitrous oxide, or protoxide of nitrogen; -- so called from the exhilaration and laughing which it sometimes produces when inhaled.  It has been much used as an anaesthetic agent, though now its use is primarily in dentistry
 Laughing goose Zool., the European white-fronted goose.
 Laughing gull. Zool. (a) A common European gull (Xema ridibundus); -- called also pewit, black cap, red-legged gull, and sea crow. (b) An American gull (Larus atricilla). In summer the head is nearly black, the back slate color, and the five outer primaries black.
 Laughing hyena Zool., the spotted hyena. See Hyena.
 Laughing jackass Zool., the great brown kingfisher (Dacelo gigas), of Australia; -- called also giant kingfisher, and gogobera.
 Laughing owl Zool., a peculiar owl (Sceloglaux albifacies) of New Zealand, said to be on the verge of extinction. The name alludes to its notes.
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 laughing owl
      n : almost extinct owl of New Zealand [syn: laughing jackass,
          Sceloglaux albifacies]