noun
- 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
- a condition characterized by repeated contractions of this kind
- Chiefly Brit., Informal a difficulty, problem, or setback, usually a minor one; hitch ()
Origin:
altered < Early ModE hikop, hickock, hicket, of echoic orig. (as also in MDu huckup): var. sp. from assoc. with cough
intransitive verb hiccuped or hiccupped, hiccuping or hiccupping
to make a hiccup or hiccups