hiccup

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
hiccup /ˈhɪkʌp/ (also hiccough (pronunc. same))

▶noun

• 1 an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm and respiratory organs, with a sudden closure of the glottis and a characteristic gulping sound.

• 2 a minor difficulty or setback.

▶verb (hiccups, hiccuping, hiccuped) make the sound of a hiccup or series of hiccups.

– derivatives
hiccupy adjective.

– origin C16: imitative; the form hiccough arose by assoc. with cough.