caterwaul

American  

[kat-er-wawl] / ˈkæt ərˌwɔl /

verb (used without object)

1. to utter long wailing cries, as cats in rutting time.

2. to utter a similar sound; howl or screech.

   Synonyms:

   yowl, squawk, shriek, wail

3. to quarrel like cats.

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noun

1. the cry of a cat in rutting time.

2. any similar sound.

caterwaul British  

/ ˈkætəˌwɔːl /

verb

1. to make a yowling noise, as a cat on heat

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noun

1. a shriek or yell made by or sounding like a cat on heat

Other Word Forms

• caterwauler noun

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

As Hogan documents, Vance caterwauled about everything, from TV shows being "woke" to — always — "cat ladies."

From Salon

He heard the thud as she struck the ground, and her crazy caterwauling as she shot off in utter confusion.

From Literature

Even the Pokémon noises are gently mellowed out in contrast to the coarser, more caterwauling sounds of the games; here the creatures purr, cry, coo and sigh like docile house pets.

From New York Times

But as the years progressed and Burning Man became more of a social media sensation than a social experiment, critics and veteran burners alike caterwauled that the event’s ethos had lost its way.

From Los Angeles Times

Meaning, he's accustomed to getting his winks in around random 2 a.m. caterwauling slaps in the face.

From Salon