To swallow something quickly and noisily, or to drink something in large amounts at once.
From Middle Dutch 'gulpen' or Low German 'gulpen', meaning to pour or gush out. The word likely mimics the sound made when swallowing, which is common in Germanic languages. It evolved to mean the act of swallowing or the sound accompanying it.
The word 'gulp' is onomatopoeia—it literally sounds like what it describes! Many sound-imitating words like 'gulp', 'slurp', and 'burp' exist across languages, showing how humans use similar mouth sounds to describe eating and drinking.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.