caterwaul
[ kat-er-wawl ]
/ ˈkæt ərˌwɔl /
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verb (used without object)
to utter long wailing cries, as cats in rutting time.
to utter a similar sound; howl or screech.
to quarrel like cats.
noun Also cat·er·waul·ing.
the cry of a cat in rutting time.
any similar sound.
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Origin of caterwaul
1350–1400; Middle English cater(wawen) (equivalent to cater tomcat (<Middle Dutch ) + wawen to howl, Old English wāwan to blow, said of the wind) + waul, variant of wail
OTHER WORDS FROM caterwaul
cat·er·waul·er, nounWords nearby caterwaul
Caterina, catering, caterpillar, caterpillar flap, caterpillar hunter, caterwaul, cates, Catesby, cat eye, cat-eyed, catfall
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for caterwaul
British Dictionary definitions for caterwaul
caterwaul
/ (ˈkætəˌwɔːl) /
verb (intr)
to make a yowling noise, as a cat on heat
noun
a shriek or yell made by or sounding like a cat on heat
Derived forms of caterwaul
caterwauler, nounWord Origin for caterwaul
C14: of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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