retch
UK[rɛtʃ]US[rɛtʃ]
v
To make the sound and movement of vomiting, especially when nothing is actually brought up from the stomach.
n
An act or sound of retching.
Etymology
The verb 'retch' originates from the Old English word 'hrǣcan', meaning to clear the throat or spit. This term is related to the Old Norse 'hrækja', with both deriving from a Proto-Germanic root imitative of the harsh, grating sound of the action. Over time, its meaning narrowed from the general act of throat-clearing to specifically denote the involuntary spasms associated with vomiting. The modern spelling and pronunciation stabilized in Middle English, solidifying its onomatopoeic link to the physical sound it describes.
Analysis
The word 'retch' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It functions as a single, indivisible morpheme in modern English.
Examples
The smell was so foul it made him retch.
She was overcome by a sudden, dry retch.
Even thinking about the medicine caused a retching reflex.