caterwaul

(kat′ər wôl′)

intransitive verb

to make a shrill, howling sound like that of a cat at rutting time; screech; wail

Origin: ME caterwrawen, caterwawen < cater (prob. < MDu kater, tomcat) + v. wrawlen, wawlen; prob. echoic

noun

such a sound

See caterwaul in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intransitive verb cat·er·wauled, cat·er·waul·ing, cat·er·wauls

noun

A shrill, discordant sound.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English *caterwawlen

Origin: : *cater, tomcat

Origin: ; akin to Low German kater

Origin: + wawlen, wrawlen, to yowl (ultimately of imitative origin)

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