Burp Is a Young Word for an Old Act
To burp is to release air from the stomach through the mouth. The word is only about a century old.
To burp is to release swallowed air from the stomach through the mouth. The word is surprisingly recent, American and imitative, recorded only from the 1930s. The older English word is *belch*, which is Old English, so a very old bodily act acquired a very new name. The transitive use, *to burp a baby*, appeared almost immediately: a fed infant swallows air that must be brought up or it causes discomfort.
- To release stomach air. *He burped.*
- To wind a baby. *Burp the baby.*
- A burp. *A loud burp.*
- Belch — the older word. *A belch.*
- Imitative. *From the 1930s.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | burp | Burping. |
| Noun | burp | A burp. |
| Past | burped | Burped. |
| Related | belch | To belch. |
| Coined | 1930s | American. |
- The baby burped after feeding.Infant.
- Burp him over your shoulder.Transitive.
- Belch is the older word.Comparison.
New words for old things
- Burp — 1930s, replacing the Old English belch
- Snack — an old word, but the verb is recent
- Nap — the noun sense is much newer than the act
- Toddler — 1790s, from toddle
- Teenager — 1940s, though the age group is not new
Imitative, American English from the 1930s.
How old is the word burp?
Only about a century. It is American and imitative, recorded from the 1930s. Belch is the far older word.
Why do babies need burping?
They swallow air while feeding. Bringing it up prevents discomfort and reduces spitting up.