hiccup

Or hic-cough

[hik-uhp, -uhp]

noun

1. a quick, involuntary inhalation that follows a spasm of the diaphragm and is suddenly checked by closure of the glottis, producing a short, relatively sharp sound.

2. Usually hiccups. the condition of having such spasms.

   She got the hiccups just as she began to speak.

3. Informal.,  a minor difficulty, interruption, setback, etc..

   a hiccup in the stock market.

verb (used without object)

hiccuped, hiccupped, hiccuping, hiccupping. 

1. to make the sound of a hiccup.

   The motor hiccuped as it started.

2. to have the hiccups.

3. Informal.,  to experience a temporary decline, setback, interruption, etc..

   There was general alarm when the economy hiccuped.

hiccup

/ ˈhɪkʌp /

noun

1. Technical name: singultus. a spasm of the diaphragm producing a sudden breathing in followed by a closing of the glottis, resulting in a sharp sound

2. the state or condition of having such spasms

3. informal,  a minor difficulty or problem

verb

1. (intr) to make a hiccup or hiccups

2. (tr) to utter with a hiccup or hiccups

Word History and Origins

Origin of hiccup¹

1570–80; alteration of hocket, hickock, equivalent to hic + -ock; akin to Low German hick hiccup; hocket

Word History and Origins

Origin of hiccup¹

C16: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Fears that AI companies may not be able to deliver on the vast amounts of spending on the technology have been a major driver of hiccups for stocks in recent weeks.

Read more on MarketWatch

The money gets repaid with interest and the hiccup to the retirement account is nominal, Hunter-Peterson said.

Read more on MarketWatch

While those factors have contributed to periodic pullbacks in stocks’ record-breaking run this year, the hiccups have been fleeting.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And fans shouldn’t fret about experiencing hiccups with the live content, Strauss said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Credit spreads are the market’s real-time read on default risk and fear, the quickest check on whether a funding hiccup is bleeding into fundamentals,” said Brian Weisenberger, chief market strategist at Xtollo Investment Partners.

Read more on Barron's