hiccup

== English == === Alternative forms === hiccough (UK) hickup (archaic) === Etymology === From earlier hickop, alteration of earlier hicket, hyckock, from hic (onomatopoeic) + -ock (diminutive suffix). Akin to Scots hick, hix (“hiccup”), West Frisian hik (“hiccup”), Dutch hik (“hiccup”), Middle Low German hükup, huckup, hueckup (modern Low German hick (“hiccup”)), German hicksen (“to hiccup”, verb), Alemannic German Hidsgi (“hiccup”), Danish hikke (“hiccup”), Swedish hicka (“hiccup”), hicka (“to hiccup”, verb), Icelandic hiksti (“hiccup”). Displaced yex, from Middle English yexen, ȝisken, ȝixen, ȝoxen (“to hiccup”), from Old English ġiscian, ġeocsian (“to hiccup”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈhɪkʌp/, /ˈhɪkəp/ Rhymes: -ɪkəp Homophone: hiccough Hyphenation: hic‧cup === Noun === hiccup (plural hiccups) A spasm of the diaphragm, or the resulting sound. A case of the hiccups; the condition of having the spasms of hiccupping; singultus; diaphragmatic myoclonus. (by extension) Any spasm or sudden change. (informal) A minor obstacle or setback. Synonym: hang-up ==== Hypernyms ==== (spasm of the diaphragm): myoclonus ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== hiccups === Verb === hiccup (third-person singular simple present hiccups, present participle hiccuping or hiccupping, simple past and past participle hiccuped or hiccupped) (intransitive) To produce a hiccup; have the hiccups. (transitive) To say with a hiccup. (intransitive) To produce an abortive sound like a hiccup. ==== Translations ==== === Derived terms ===