What is "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.)

   1. A tubular part made to cover, sustain, or steady another part, or to form a connection between two parts.

   2. A long bushing or thimble, as in the nave of a wheel.

   3. A short piece of pipe used for covering a joint, or forming a joint between the ends of two other pipes.

4. (Elec.) A double tube of copper, in section like the figure 8, into which the ends of bare wires are pushed so that when the tube is twisted an electrical connection is made. The joint thus made is called

   a McIntire joint.

   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 or To laugh up one's 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 pinon the sleeve of, or To hang on the sleeve of, to be, or make, dependent upon.

Laugh \Laugh\ (l[aum]f), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Laughed (l[aum]ft); 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[=e]n, Icel. hl[ae]ja,W 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, To laugh up one's sleeve, to laugh secretly, or so as not to be observed, especially while apparently preserving a grave or serious demeanor toward the person or persons laughed at.

   To laugh out, to laugh in spite of some restraining influence; to laugh aloud.

   To laugh out of the other corner of the mouth or To laugh out of the other side of the mouth, to weep or cry; to feel regret, vexation, or disappointment after hilarity or exaltation. [Slang]