bawl

[ bawl ]

verb (used without object)

1. to cry or wail lustily.

   Synonyms: wail, bellow, roar, squall, yowl, howl

verb (used with object)

1. to utter or proclaim by outcry; shout out:

   to bawl one's dissatisfaction;

   bawling his senseless ditties to the audience.

2. to offer for sale by shouting, as a hawker:

   a peddler bawling his wares.

noun

1. a loud shout; outcry.
2. a period or spell of loud crying or weeping.
3. Chiefly Midland and Western U.S. the noise made by a calf.

verb phrase

1. Informal. to scold vociferously; reprimand or scold vigorously:

   Your father will bawl you out when he sees this mess.

bawl

/ bɔːl /

verb

1. intr to utter long loud cries, as from pain or frustration; wail
2. to shout loudly, as in anger

noun

1. a loud shout or cry

Derived Forms

• ˈbawling, noun
• ˈbawler, noun

Other Words From

• bawl·er noun
• out·bawl verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of bawl¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin baulāre “to bark,” from Germanic; compare Old Norse baula “to low,” baula “cow,” perhaps a conflation of belja ( bell ² ) with an unrecorded old root bhu-

Word History and Origins

Origin of bawl¹

C15: probably from Icelandic baula to low; related to Medieval Latin baulāre to bark, Swedish böla to low; all of imitative origin

Example Sentences

That night, Faris saw a woman near her bawl and wide-eyed grown-ups run.

From Washington Post

In fact, she doesn't seem happy till she gets it and I suspect that if I missed it any morning she would bawl for it.

From Project Gutenberg

At first she wouldn't allow any one but me to milk her and would bawl if I attended to any of the other cows first.

From Project Gutenberg

They sometimes, on particular occasions, would sing or bawl out something like a rude tune; but we could not understand it.

From Project Gutenberg

We would jibe one another, laugh at a fellow to his chagrin, and when we were angry bawl each other out unmercifully.

From Project Gutenberg

Sharp and lively, I mean; not bawl, and answer over your back—most part impudence, and nothing else—and then out of hearing.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• sob