hiccuped

Variant of hiccup

hiccup definition

hic·cup (hik′up′, -əp)

noun

  1. a sudden, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm when it begins to allow air into the lungs only to have the glottis suddenly close, producing an abrupt sound
  2. a condition characterized by repeated contractions of this kind
  3. Chiefly Brit., Informal a difficulty, problem, or setback, usually a minor one; hitch ()

Etymology: altered < Early ModE hikop, hickock, hicket, of echoic orig. (as also in MDu huckup): var. sp. from assoc. with cough

intransitive verb hiccuped -·cuped′ or hiccupped -·cupped′, hiccuping -·cup′·ing or hiccupping -·cup′·ping

to make a hiccup or hiccups

transitive verb

to utter with hiccups
Also sp. hiccough hic′·cough′

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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