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Hiccup

2 stages from English to English.

Today it means an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm; a minor setback

Where does the word "hiccup" come from? It comes from English hicket, adopted directly into English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
hicket
English · 1580s
"spasm of the diaphragm"
an imitation of the sound, like French hoquet and Dutch hik
2
Stage 2 of 2
hiccup
English · 1600s
"involuntary spasm; minor setback"
the alternative spelling 'hiccough' appeared in the 1620s through a false link with 'cough', though the pronunciation never changed
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Hiccup’s story begins in English: hicket meant “spasm of the diaphragm.” An imitation of the sound, like French hoquet and Dutch hik. It reached English by 1600s as hiccup. The alternative spelling 'hiccough' appeared in the 1620s through a false link with 'cough', though the pronunciation never changed. Today, hiccup means an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm; a minor setback.