v. & n.
v. 1 intr. catch one's breath with an open mouth as in exhaustion or astonishment. 2 intr. (foll. by for) strain to obtain by gasping (gasped for air). 3 tr. (often foll. by out) utter with gasps.
n. a convulsive catching of breath. at one's last gasp 1 at the point of death. 2 exhausted.
[ ME f. ON geispa: cf. geip idle talk ]