hiccup
UK: ˈhɪkʌp | US: ˈhɪkʌp
n. 1. A sudden, involuntary spasm of the diaphragm, often followed by a sharp closure of the glottis, producing a characteristic sound.
n. 2. A minor difficulty or interruption in a process.
vi. To experience a hiccup or series of hiccups.
The word "hiccup" is an onomatopoeic formation, imitating the sound of the involuntary spasm. It originated in the late 16th century as an alteration of the earlier "hicket," also imitative. The reduplicative structure ("hic-cup") emphasizes the repetitive nature of the sound. As a verb, it emerged later, reflecting the action of producing the sound.
She tried drinking water to stop her hiccup.
The project faced a minor hiccup when the supplier delayed delivery.
He hiccuped loudly during the quiet lecture.
A hiccup in the system caused the computer to crash temporarily.
The baby’s hiccups made everyone in the room smile.