From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Laughing \Laugh"ing\, a. & n.
from {Laugh}, v. i.
[1913 Webster]
{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.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
laughing gas
n 1: inhalation anesthetic used as an anesthetic in dentistry
and surgery [syn: {nitrous oxide}, {laughing gas}]
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