yowl

[ youl ]

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a long, distressful or dismal cry, as an animal or a person; howl.

noun

1. a yowling cry; a howl.

yowl

/ jaʊl /

verb

1. to express with or produce a loud mournful wail or cry; howl

noun

1. a loud mournful cry; wail or howl

Derived Forms

• ˈyowler, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of yowl¹

1175–1225; Middle English yuhele, yule, youle, apparently from a cry of pain or distress yuhele; compare Old English geoh- (in geohthu grief )

Word History and Origins

Origin of yowl¹

C13: from Old Norse gaula; related to German jaulen; see yawl ²

Example Sentences

Here he slept very comfortably until noon, and then the familiar 'yowl-yowl' awakened him.

From Project Gutenberg

They galloped away, and the 'yowl-yowl' of the pack died away over the moor.

From Project Gutenberg

Hippity-Hop gave a yowl of fear, and twisted to scratch Jan's eyes, but he gripped her firmly, though his teeth did not hurt her.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, jest as I was finished, and was a saying amen, the lordy mercy what a yowl something did give right over me in a tree!

From Project Gutenberg

Then he gave a yowl which rang through the schoolroom, providing exhilarating diversion to two hundred lifted heads.

From Project Gutenberg