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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hiccough

Hiccough \Hic"cough\ (?; 277), n. [OE. hickup, hicket, hickock; prob. of imitative origin; cf. D. & Dan. hik, Sw. hicka, Armor. hak, hik, W. ig, F. hoquet.] (Physiol.) A modified respiratory movement; a spasmodic inspiration, consisting of a sudden contraction of the diaphragm, accompanied with closure of the glottis, so that further entrance of air is prevented, while the impulse of the column of air entering and striking upon the closed glottis produces a sound, or hiccough. [Written also hickup or hiccup.]

Hiccough

Hiccough \Hic"cough\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hiccoughed; p. pr. & vb. n. Hiccoughing.] To have a hiccough or hiccoughs.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
hiccough

1620s, variant of hiccup (q.v.) by mistaken association with cough.

Wiktionary
hiccough

n. (alternative spelling of hiccup English) vb. (context dated English) (alternative spelling of hiccup English)

WordNet
hiccough

n. (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; "how do you cure the hiccups?" [syn: hiccup, singultus]

hiccough

v. breathe spasmodically, and make a sound; "When you have to hiccup, drink a glass of cold water" [syn: hiccup]

Usage examples of "hiccough".

On a half sob and a hiccough combo, she rose to her feet and let Charmaine in.

My physical state is deplorable-- perpetual hiccough and ptosis of the left eyelid.

Street wanderers jumped when they saw his trishaw speeding in front of the others, hiccoughing over the cobbles and scattering dogs and innocent sleepy children.

Then Condy promptly got the hiccoughs from drinking his tea too fast, and fretted up and down the room like a chicken with the pip till Travis grew faint and weak with laughter.

The baby sucked on one grubby fist and hiccoughed tearily, as if just finishing an exhausting tantrum.

It broke its whispering with zapping hiccoughs as some of itslarger victims were ingested.

Then, intoxicated with drink and food, besotted, red in the face, shaken by hiccoughs, his mind clouded and his speech thick, he unbuttoned his uniform in order to breathe or he could not have taken a step.

She went into Wade’s nurs­ery and found him sitting clutched in Prissy’s arms, half dressed, hiccoughing quietly.

They said good-bye to Hagrid and walked back up to the castle, Ron hiccoughing occasionally, but only bringing up two very small slugs.

She stirred against him, hiccoughing a little, then put baby arms around his neck.

For a moment, he was aware only of her warmth, the feel of her against him, the hiccoughing sound escaping her.

A small, perspiring man, smelling of spirits, with a white tie and swallow-tail coat, which he took off after the first figure, came up to her, hiccoughing, and caught her up, while another fat man, with a beard, and also wearing a dress-coat (they had come straight from a ball) caught Clara up, and for a long time they turned, danced, screamed, drank.