Hiccups

[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.

a bout of hiccupping, by 1723; see hiccup (n.). This often also was called hiccup or the hiccup.
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+)