harrumph

[huh-ruhmf]

verb (used without object)

to clear the throat audibly in a self-important manner: The professor harrumphed good-naturedly.
to express oneself gruffly.

Origin of harrumph

First recorded in 1935–40; imitative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for harrumphed

Contemporary Examples of harrumphed

“The most dangerous men are those who are in charge of war,” he harrumphed.
What Does Julian Assange Want?
Tunku Varadarajan
July 28, 2010

Historical Examples of harrumphed

She harrumphed a bit, as suspicious as she usually is, and I went to the stove for more coffee.
Cue for Quiet
Thomas L. Sherred
The Phoenix harrumphed several times in its throat and shuffled its feet.
David and the Phoenix
Edward Ormondroyd

British Dictionary definitions for harrumphed

harrumph

verb

(intr) to clear or make the noise of clearing the throat

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for harrumphed

harrumph

representing the sound of clearing the throat or a disapproving noise, 1918, imitative. Related: Harrumphed; harrumphing.