squeal
[ skweel ]
/ skwil /
noun
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
Slang.
- an instance of informing against someone.
- a protest or complaint; beef.
verb (used without object)
to utter or emit a squeal or squealing sound.
Slang.
- to turn informer; inform.
- to protest or complain; beef.
verb (used with object)
to utter or produce with a squeal.
RELATED WORDS
squawk, yelp, wail, screech, rasp, peep, shriek, howl, bleat, cheep, shout, yowl, grate, creak, shrill, scream, yip, tattle, complain, protest
Nearby words
- squeaker,
- squeaky,
- squeaky clean,
- squeaky wheel gets the grease,
- squeaky-clean,
- squeamish,
- squeamishly,
- squee,
- squeegee,
- squeezable
Origin of squeal
1250–1300; Middle English squelen; imitative
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for squeal
squeal
/ (skwiːl) /
noun
a high shrill yelp, as of pain
a screaming sound, as of tyres when a car brakes suddenly
verb
to utter a squeal or with a squeal
(intr) slang to confess information about another
(intr) informal, mainly British to complain or protest loudly
Word Origin for squeal
C13 squelen, of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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squeal
c.1300, probably of imitative origin, similar to Old Norse skvala "to cry out" (see squall (v.)). The sense of "inform on another" is first recorded 1865. The noun is attested from 1747.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper