I. ˈkȯf also ˈkäf verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English coughen, from (assumed) Old English cohhian (of which cohhettan is a freq.); akin to Middle Dutch cochen to cough, Middle High German kūchen to breathe heavily, probably of imitative origin
intransitive verb
1. : to expel air from the lungs suddenly with an explosive noise usually in a series of efforts
2. : to make a noise like that of coughing: as
a. : to fire in a single short burst or series of separate bursts
the machine gun coughed once
b. of an engine : to go through an operation cycle without continuous firing
the engine began to cough on the hill
transitive verb
1. : to expel by coughing — used with up or out
cough up mucus
2. : disclose — used with up or out
cough up all he knows
II. noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English coughe, from coughen, v.
1. : a condition marked by repeated coughing : an ailment manifesting itself by frequent coughing
he has a bad cough
2. : an explosive expulsion of air from the lungs acting as a protective mechanism to clear the air passages or as a symptom of pulmonary disturbance
3. : a single burst of firing : a single firing or irregular bursts of firing in the cylinders of a motor