hiccup
pronunciation
How to pronounce hiccup in British English:
UK ['hɪkʌp]
How to pronounce hiccup in American English:
US [ˈhɪkəp]
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- Noun:
- (usually plural) the state of having reflex spasms of the diaphragm accompanied by a rapid closure of the glottis producing an audible sound; sometimes a symptom of indigestion
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- Verb:
- breathe spasmodically, and make a sound
Word Origin
- hiccup (n.)
- 1570s, hickop, earlier hicket, hyckock, "a word meant to imitate the sound produced by the convulsion of the diaphragm" [Abram Smythe Farmer, "Folk-Etymology," London, 1882]. Compare French hoquet, Danish hikke, etc. Modern spelling first recorded 1788; An Old English word for it was ælfsogoða, so called because hiccups were thought to be caused by elves.
- hiccup (v.)
- 1580s; see hiccup (n.).
Example
- 1. We descendants of these animals were left with vestiges of their history , including the hiccup .
- 2. Our vocal cords shut to stem the flow of air , thus producing the sound of a hiccup .
- 3. The doctor was silent for the longest time , then she said with slight hiccup in her voice , " well , my dear , you 're having , um , twins . "
- 4. Just one hiccup could destroy a carving in progress .
- 5. Sara bit her lip and started to hiccup .