Hiccupping

[hik-uhp, -uh p] /ˈhɪk ʌp, -əp/

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 or hiccupped, hiccuping or hiccupping.
4.
to make the sound of a hiccup:
The motor hiccuped as it started.
5.
to have the hiccups.
6.
Informal. to experience a temporary decline, setback, interruption, etc.:
There was general alarm when the economy hiccuped.
/ˈhɪkʌp/
noun
1.
a spasm of the diaphragm producing a sudden breathing in followed by a closing of the glottis, resulting in a sharp sound Technical name singultus
2.
the state or condition of having such spasms
3.
(informal) a minor difficulty or problem
verb -cups, -cuping, -cuped, -cups, -cupping, -cupped, -coughs, -coughing, -coughed
4.
(intransitive) to make a hiccup or hiccups
5.
(transitive) to utter with a hiccup or hiccups
n.

1570s, hickop, earlier hicket, hyckock, “a word meant to imitate the sound produced by the convulsion of the diaphragm” [Abram Smythe Farmer, “Folk-Etymology,” London, 1882]. Cf. French hoquet, Danish hikke, etc. Modern spelling first recorded 1788; An Old English word for it was ælfsogoða, so called because hiccups were thought to be caused by elves.
v.

1580s; see hiccup (n.).

hiccup hic·cup or hic·cough (hĭk’əp)
n.
A spasm of the diaphragm causing sudden inhalation interrupted by spasmodic closure of the glottis, producing a characteristic noise.
hic’cup or hic’cough v.

noun

A brief interruption; spasmodic stoppage: The violence in Moscow is another hiccup in Russia’s drive for democracy (1980s+)