squawk

[ skwawk ]
/ skwɔk /

verb (used without object)

to utter a loud, harsh cry, as a duck or other fowl when frightened.
Informal. to complain loudly and vehemently.

verb (used with object)

to utter or give forth with a squawk.

noun

a loud, harsh cry or sound.
Informal. a loud, vehement complaint.
the black-crowned night heron.See under night heron.

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Test your memory on these verbal firecrackers from the week of June 29 to July 5!
Question 1 of 7
anchorite
a granular metamorphic rock.
a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.
a hobble or fetter for a horse or other animal.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of squawk

1815–25; blend of squall2 and hawk3

SYNONYMS FOR squawk

2 grumble, gripe, complain, yelp.

OTHER WORDS FROM squawk

squawk·er, noun

Words nearby squawk

squaw, squaw huckleberry, squaw man, squawbush, squawfish, squawk, squawk box, squawky, squawroot, squeak, squeak by
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to squawking

screech, cackle, hoot, yap, squeal, crow, cry, yelp, yawp, caw, protest, bellyache, complain, yammer

Example sentences from the Web for squawking

  • Squawking birds rose in every direction as they approached, and clouds of gulls circled around crying the alarm.

    Bobby of the Labrador|Dillon Wallace

  • Squawking and yelling children swarmed over the flags and rude cobblestones that paved the ways.

    The Black Bag|Louis Joseph Vance

  • Squawking chickens darted to safety and a flock of geese waddled off hissing their protest.

    The Secret of the Sundial|Mildred A. Wirt, AKA Ann Wirt

British Dictionary definitions for squawking

squawk
/ (skwɔːk) /

noun

a loud raucous cry; screech
informal a loud complaint or protest

verb

to utter a squawk or with a squawk
(intr) informal to complain loudly

Derived forms of squawk

squawker, noun

Word Origin for squawk

C19: of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012