The story
From whooping + cough, from the characteristic-sounding cough that is a major symptom.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
whooping cough
Today it means: A contagious disease of the respiratory system that usually affects children caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, the advanced stage of which is characterised by spasms of coughing followed by a whooping sound during the intake of breath. Full definition →