chin cough: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ArchaicDialectal / Archaic / Historical Medical
Quick answer
What does “chin cough” mean?
A colloquial or dialectal name for whooping cough, an infectious respiratory disease.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A colloquial or dialectal name for whooping cough, an infectious respiratory disease.
Historically, a folk term used to describe the violent spasmodic coughing fits characteristic of pertussis, which can cause the sufferer's chin to jerk forward.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term was more commonly recorded in historical British dialects (e.g., Northern England, Scotland). American usage is also historical and rare.
Connotations
Archaic, rustic, or folk-medical.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern English; found only in historical texts or discussions of obsolete medical terms.
Grammar
How to Use “chin cough” in a Sentence
[Patient] has chin cough.[Chin cough] is a historical term for whooping cough.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chin cough” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The chin-cough description was common in old herbals.
American English
- He found a reference to a chin-cough remedy in a pioneer journal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or medical history contexts.
Everyday
Not used in modern conversation.
Technical
Obsolete; replaced by 'pertussis' or 'whooping cough' in medical terminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chin cough”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chin cough”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chin cough”
- Using it as a current medical term.
- Confusing it with other types of cough.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an obsolete, folk term for whooping cough (pertussis).
It described the characteristic violent coughing fits of whooping cough, which could cause the sufferer's chin to thrust forward.
Only if you are deliberately aiming for a historical, dialectal, or archaic flavour. The standard modern term is 'whooping cough'.
Yes, for example, 'ague' for malaria, 'consumption' for tuberculosis, and 'the bloody flux' for dysentery.
A colloquial or dialectal name for whooping cough, an infectious respiratory disease.
Chin cough is usually dialectal / archaic / historical medical in register.
Chin cough: in British English it is pronounced /tʃɪn kɒf/, and in American English it is pronounced /tʃɪn kɔːf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the violent cough being so strong it makes your CHIN jerk forward with each COUGH.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS NAMED BY A VISIBLE SYMPTOM (the chin's movement).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the term 'chin cough' today?