Hangover
/ˈhæŋˌoʊvər/noun
A feeling of illness or discomfort after drinking too much alcohol.
Did you know?The word is a straightforward English compound from the idea of something remaining or being left over, and it only later came to mean the aftermath of drinking too much alcohol.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hangian
“to be suspended or remain hanging”
Old English
OE
hangian ofer
“to hang over, remain above”
19th Century
English
hang-over
“something left over or remaining after an event”
Late 19th Century
English
hangover
“the unpleasant aftereffects of drinking alcohol”
Modern English
English
hangover
“a headache, nausea, and fatigue following heavy drinking”