Used in writing to express the sound of a hiccup, especially a drunken one.
‘When the farmer had arrived safely in the dock he looked about in a very dreamy manner, and in answer to the Magistrates' Clerk said ‘Prapsh I have had - hic - a lil drop - hic - er whisky,’ provoking great hilarity in the court.’
‘One to see in the New Year, hic, and one for ya birfday.’
‘And I've been hitting the bottle in the evenings to help me get by. (* hic *)’
‘So will you * hic * tell me what happened this morning?’
‘He could have told me - hic - instead of letting her say something - hic - like that!’
Origin
Late 19th century imitative.
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