noun
croup
KROOP/kruːp/
A childhood respiratory illness causing a harsh, barking cough.
The child’s harsh cough and difficult inhalation accompany croup.
Etymology
The obsolete verb croup meant “to cry hoarsely or croak,” naming the illness through its harsh sound. The verb itself was probably an imitation of sound.
In context
if your child has a loud barking cough fever and noisy high-pitched breathing he or she may have a viral respiratory illness called croup
More examples
- The doctor recognized the barking cough of croup.
- The leaflet explained the symptoms of croup.
- The clinic recorded several cases of croup.
Forms
croup
Similar words
- laryngitis
- Laryngitis affects the voice box; croup involves characteristic upper-airway swelling and a barking cough, especially in children.