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, nounWords nearby caterwaul
caterina,
catering,
caterpillar,
caterpillar flap,
caterpillar hunter,
caterwaul,
cates,
catesby,
catfall,
catfight,
catfish
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, nounWord Origin for caterwaul
C14: of imitative origin