Silenced with something covering the mouth, or made to choke or retch from disgust.
From Middle English 'gaggen,' likely onomatopoetic imitating choking sounds. May relate to Norse 'gag' (throat). The word carries both literal meanings (silencing) and figurative (disgust or choking). The '-ed' past tense is regular.
Your gag reflex is a protective mechanism—when something touches the back of your throat, it triggers gagging to prevent choking. Interestingly, people can overcome this reflex through practice, which is why sword swallowers and pearl divers train their bodies.
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