- retch
- 1548, originally "to clear the throat, to cough up phlegm," from O.E. hręcan "to cough up, spit" (related to hraca "phlegm"), from P.Gmc. *khrękijanan (cf. O.H.G. rahhison "to clear one's throat"), of imitative origin (cf. Lith. kregeti "to grunt"). Meaning "to make efforts to vomit" is from 1850; sense of "to vomit" is first attested 1888.