gasp

[gasp, gahsp] /gæsp, gɑsp/
noun
1.
a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise.
2.
a convulsive effort to breathe.
3.
a short, convulsive utterance:
the words came out in gasps.
verb (used without object)
4.
to catch one's breath.
5.
to struggle for breath with the mouth open; breathe convulsively.
6.
to long with breathless eagerness; desire; crave (usually followed by for or after).
verb (used with object)
7.
to utter with gasps (often followed by out, forth, away, etc.):
She gasped out the words.
8.
to breathe or emit with gasps (often followed by away).
Idioms
9.
last gasp, the point of death; dying:
At his last gasp he confessed to the murder.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English gaspen, probably Old English *gāspen, equivalent to Old Norse geispa; akin to gape
Related forms
gaspingly, adverb
Synonyms
4, 5. puff, blow. See pant1 .
British Dictionary definitions for last gasp

gasp

/ɡɑːsp/
verb
1.
(intransitive) to draw in the breath sharply, convulsively, or with effort, esp in expressing awe, horror, etc
2.
(intransitive; foll by after or for) to crave
3.
(transitive) often foll by out. to utter or emit breathlessly
noun
4.
a short convulsive intake of breath
5.
a short convulsive burst of speech
6.
at the last gasp
  1. at the point of death
  2. at the last moment
Derived Forms
gaspingly, adverb
Word Origin
C14: from Old Norse geispa to yawn; related to Swedish dialect gispa, Danish gispe
Word Origin and History for last gasp

gasp

v.

late 14c., gaspen, of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old Norse geispa "to yawn," or its Danish derivative gispe "gasp," which probably are related to Old Norse gapa (see gape). Related: Gasped; gasping.

n.

1570s, from gasp (v.).

Related Abbreviations for last gasp

GASP

Group Against Smoking in Public
Idioms and Phrases with last gasp

last gasp

The moment before death; also, the end. For example, “Fight till the last gasp” (Shakespeare, 1 Henry VI, 1:2), or He was determined to stay at the party until the last gasp. This idiom alludes to taking one's last breath, literally (first example) or figuratively (second example). [ Late 1500s ]

gasp

see: last gasp