caterwaul

[ kat-er-wawl ]
/ ˈkæt ərˌwɔl /

verb (used without object)

to utter long wailing cries, as cats in rutting time.
to utter a similar sound; howl or screech.
to quarrel like cats.

noun Also cat·er·waul·ing.

the cry of a cat in rutting time.
any similar sound.

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

OTHER WORDS FROM caterwaul

cat·er·waul·er, noun

Example sentences from the Web for caterwaul

British Dictionary definitions for caterwaul

caterwaul
/ (ˈkætəˌwɔːl) /

verb (intr)

to make a yowling noise, as a cat on heat

noun

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

Derived forms of caterwaul

caterwauler, noun

Word Origin for caterwaul

C14: of imitative origin