Retch
/rɛtʃ/noun
To make the sound and movement of vomiting without necessarily bringing anything up.
Did you know?Retch is not a fancy medical term; it’s an old, sound-driven English word that likely grew from a base meaning “to cough, clear the throat, or strain,” which is why it feels so bodily and violent.
Etymological Timeline
Old English / early Middle English
English
reccan / reken?
“Likely related to an old Germanic base with senses like to cough, clear the throat, or strain; the exact early history is uncertain.”
Middle English
English
retchen
“To cough violently, gag, or make a heaving motion.”
16th Century
English
retch
“To heave or vomit, or to make the spasmodic movements associated with vomiting.”
Modern English
English
retch
“To make an involuntary gagging or vomiting motion, often without expelling anything.”