Hiccoughed

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A sudden, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm leading to a sharp sound and interruption of breathing that is typically harmless
2. A repeated, reflexive action characterized by abrupt inhalations followed by vocalization, often resulting from overeating or emotional stimuli
3. An involuntary spasm of the respiratory muscles producing a characteristic sound as air is rapidly expelled, commonly associated with digestive disturbances

Etymology: "Hiccoughed" is the past tense and past participle of "hiccough", an older spelling of "hiccup" that is still used in British and American English alike. The verb itself is a form of the earlier noun, and its spelling reflects a different route into English: the "ough" was an attempt to match the sound of the word, which is closer to the hiccup than the spelling suggests. Because the verb is simply the past form of its base word, its history is that of "hiccough" itself, which is imitative in origin. Spellings such as "hiccup" have since become more common, so "hiccoughed" now reads as a deliberately traditional choice. Its meaning, gasping in spasms, follows from the involuntary jerk of the diaphragm that causes the hiccup itself.

Synonyms: hiccupped, coughed, gasped, choked