yodan verb with 'ku' ending (archaic), intransitive verb
to cough; to clear one's throat
Archaic intransitive verb. In modern Japanese, 咳をする or 咳が出る are used instead. Found in classical literature.
In classical texts, しわぶく appears, corresponding to modern 咳をする (to cough).
Kana spelling of the archaic verb; useful for search and reading older texts.
The exact derivation is uncertain; it is an archaic native Japanese verb. The kanji 咳 is now read せき in modern usage.