breathy

English

Etymology tree

English breath

Proto-Indo-European *-kos

Proto-Germanic *-gaz

Proto-West Germanic *-g

Old English -iġ

Middle English -y

English -y

English breathy

From breath + -y.

breathy (comparative breathier, superlative breathiest)

Accompanied by audible breathing.
- 1985, Bernard MacLaverty, Short story, 'Across the Street', Irish Times Summer Stories. (Also published in 'The Great Profundo and Other Stories' , 1987, Penguin Books paperback: see at p.138-139):
  She had cold sores on her upper lip which made her mouth look swollen and ugly. But from a distance it was not noticeable – like the spit and breathy sounds.