'cough' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'cohhian', where 'coh-' meant 'to make a noise'.

'cohhian' transformed into the Middle English word 'coughen', and eventually became the modern English word 'cough'.

Initially, it meant 'to make a noise', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to expel air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound'.