Pronunciation: [dˈʌbə͡ld ˈʌp] (IPA) 
The spelling of "doubled up" follows the usual English consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel pattern. The "d" is pronounced as /d/, the "ou" as /ʌ/, the "b" as /b/, the "l" as /l/, the "e" as /ɛ/, and the "d" again as /d/. The final "up" is pronounced as /ʌp/. The word means to bend or fold in half, and is often used to describe a person who is doubled over in pain or laughter.
Doubled up is a phrase used to describe a close physical proximity or positioning where two individuals, objects, or body parts are tightly pressed together in a way that they touch or overlap. It can refer to a variety of situations, contexts, or physical arrangements.
In a literal sense, "doubled up" can depict two people or animals sharing limited space, such as when they are sitting or lying closely together and their bodies are touching or intertwined. For example, siblings may huddle together in bed, doubled up to conserve warmth in cold weather.
Figuratively, the phrase can imply a state of intense pain, distress, or physical discomfort. When someone is "doubled up in pain," it means they are experiencing severe abdominal or cramping pain that causes them to fold over, bend forward, or hunch their body due to the intensity of the discomfort.
Additionally, "doubled up" can also describe an action where a person performs two duties or tasks simultaneously. For instance, if someone doubles up as a cashier and a shop assistant, they are fulfilling both roles concurrently.
Overall, "doubled up" encompasses physical closeness, simultaneous fulfillment of multiple roles or tasks, as well as a state of intense pain or discomfort that causes a person to hunch over or fold their body.
The phrase "doubled up" has its roots in Old English and Middle English.
The term "double" comes from the Old French word "dubler" which means "to double or fold over". This Old French word, in turn, is derived from the Latin word "duplus" which means "twofold" or "double".
The use of "up" in "doubled up" is derived from its Middle English usage as a particle that intensifies or strengthens the previous word. In this context, "up" is used to emphasize or reinforce the action of doubling.
Over time, "doubled up" has come to have various meanings, including physically folding or bending something in two, standing or sitting in a cramped or hunched position, and also experiencing intense laughter or emotional distress.
