coughing spell
A stretch of coughing that comes on hard, then eases off.
Also called coughing fit.
Updated September 21, 2026
coughing spell pronunciation
/KAW-fin SPEL/
Meaning
In Southern and Appalachian talk, a spell is a short stretch of something happening to you: dizzy spell, crying spell, coughing spell. A coughing spell is that jag of coughs that hits and won't quit till you've bent over the sink. It is household illness talk, the kind you hear from mamaw checking on a kid with a cold.
How folks use it
- “He had a coughing spell last night that kept the whole house awake.”
- “Give her a spoon of that syrup when the coughing spell starts.”
Origin and etymology
Spell in older English meant a turn or stretch of time. Southern and Appalachian speech kept that sense for short bouts of sickness or feeling: a spell of coughing, a bad spell with the flu. East Tennessee folk-medicine notes list spell as an episode of a symptom, with coughing spell as the plain example.
Frequently asked questions
Why say spell instead of fit?
Both work. Spell is the everyday Southern word for a short bout of whatever is ailing you.