/hik"up, -euhp/ , n. , v. , hiccuped or hiccupped, hiccuping or hiccupping .
n.
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.
v.i.
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.
Also, hic-cough /hik"up, -euhp/ .
[ 1570-80; alter. of hocket, hickock, equiv. to HIC + -OCK; akin to LG hick hiccup; see HOCKET ]