holdup
|hold-up|
🇺🇸
/ˈhoʊldˌʌp/
🇬🇧
/ˈhəʊldˌʌp/
delay or robbery
Etymology
'holdup' originates from the combination of 'hold' and 'up', where 'hold' meant 'to keep' and 'up' indicated 'in place'.
'holdup' changed from the phrase 'hold up' used in the 19th century to describe a robbery, and eventually became the modern English word 'holdup'.
Initially, it meant 'to keep something in place', but over time it evolved into its current meanings of 'delay' and 'robbery'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a delay or stoppage, especially one caused by a problem or obstruction.
There was a holdup on the highway due to an accident.
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Noun 2
an act of robbery, especially at gunpoint.
The bank experienced a holdup last night.
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Last updated: 2025/02/06 03:03