yodle

[yohd-l]

verb (used with or without object), yo·dled, yo·dling, noun

yodel

or yo·dle

[yohd-l]

verb (used with or without object), yo·deled, yo·del·ing, or (especially British) yo·delled, yo·del·ling.

to sing with frequent changes from the ordinary voice to falsetto and back again, in the manner of Swiss and Tyrolean mountaineers.

to call or shout in a similar fashion.

noun

a song, refrain, etc., so sung.

a call or shout so uttered.

Origin of yodel

First recorded in 1865–70, yodel is from the German word jodeln

Related formsyo·del·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for yodle

Historical Examples of yodle

Maybe it's C'nelius's yodle; he's been listening for it for a solid week.
John March, Southerner
George W. Cable
Her lips parted and from her throat came a long, mellow cry not unlike the yodle of the Tyrol.
When 'Bear Cat' Went Dry
Charles Neville Buck
The yodle (a rolling toowhee toowhee, etc.) is commonest in a flock from birds remaining in one locality, not traveling.
Life Histories of North American Shore Birds, Part 1 (of 2)
Arthur Cleveland Bent
The yodle probably corresponds in significance with that of the greater yellow-legs—location.
Life Histories of North American Shore Birds, Part 1 (of 2)
Arthur Cleveland Bent

British Dictionary definitions for yodle

yodle

noun

a variant spelling of yodel

Derived Formsyodler, noun

yodel

noun

an effect produced in singing by an abrupt change of register from the chest voice to falsetto, esp in popular folk songs of the Swiss Alps

verb -dels, -delling or -delled or US -dels, -deling or -deled

to sing (a song) in which a yodel is used

Derived Formsyodeller, noun

Word Origin for yodel

C19: from German jodeln, 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

Word Origin and History for yodle

yodel

1827, from German jodeln, from dialectal German jo, an exclamation of joy, of imitative origin.