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

Analysts caution Comstock’s exploration campaign is still in its early days, and it remains to be seen whether the company can pump resources across its vast new domain without hiccups.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This can introduce another hiccup in obtaining care.

Read more on MarketWatch

Then this latest hiccup fueled even more concerns that the chaotic play has become too hard to officiate properly.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That could translate into fewer Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, which would mean less support for the economy and a possible market hiccup.

Read more on Barron's

Even the charts suggest nothing more than a hiccup on the way to more gains.

Read more on Barron's