Hiccup

hik′up, n. the involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, while the glottis is spasmodically closed: the sound caused by this—also, but erroneously, Hic′cough .— v.i. to be affected with hiccup.— v.t. to say with a hiccup:— pr.p. hicc′upping; pa.p. hicc′upped. — adj. Hicc′upy , marked by hiccups. [Imit.; cf. Dut. hik , Dan. hikke , Bret. hik . The spelling hiccough is due to a confusion with cough .]