Note 11 — DIGRAPHS.
Reading edition
Note (by Professor Skeat).—There is a ridiculous notion that u, forsooth, must precede GH. Hence thogh, rightly pronounced with o, is actually spelt though. Laghter, rightly pronounced with a (as in Italian a), is spelt laughter. Through is quite correct: ou as in soup. Spellings like caught, slaughter, are not only mistakes for caght, slaghter, but the misspelling has affected the pronunciation. Gh is a comic question altogether.