cough
UK[kɒf]US[kɔːf]
v
to force air out of your lungs through your throat with a short, loud sound
n
an act or the sound of coughing
Etymology
the word 'cough' originates from middle english 'coughen', which itself evolved from old english 'cohhian'. its roots are onomatopoeic, imitating the harsh sound of the action it describes. this imitative origin is shared with similar words in other germanic languages, such as dutch 'kuchen' and german 'keuchen'. over centuries, the spelling and pronunciation standardized into its modern form, retaining its direct, sound-based connection to the physical act.
Analysis
the word 'cough' is a simplex word of imitative origin. it is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern english.
Examples
the dust made him cough violently.
she has a persistent cough that won't go away.
cover your mouth when you cough to prevent spreading germs.