gulp

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To swallow food or drink quickly in large amounts.

   The men gulped down their beers and left.

2. 2
   noun

   A large, quick swallow of food or drink.

   She drank the water in one big gulp.

3. 3
   verb

   To swallow nervously, often because of fear.

   He gulped when he saw how high the bridge was.

4. 4
   intj

   Used to show a nervous or frightened reaction.

   You want me to give the speech? Gulp!

From Middle English gulpen, probably from West Flemish or Middle Dutch gulpen, golpen, of uncertain origin. Perhaps of imitative origin, or related to Dutch galpen (“to roar, squeal”), English galp, gaup (“to gape”). Related to German Low German gulpen (“to gush out, belch, gulp”), West Frisian gjalpe, gjalpje, gjealpje (“to gush, spurt forth”), Danish gulpe, gylpe (“to gulp up, disgorge”), dialectal Swedish glapa (“to gulp down”), Old English galpettan (“to gulp down, eat greedily, devour”). More at galp.

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