caterwaul

[ kat-er-wawl ]

verb (used without object)

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

   Synonyms: yowl, squawk, shriek, wail

3. to quarrel like cats.

noun

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

caterwaul

/ ˈkætəˌwɔːl /

verb

1. to make a yowling noise, as a cat on heat

noun

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

Derived Forms

• ˈcaterˌwauler, noun

Other Words From

• cater·wauler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of caterwaul¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of caterwaul¹

C14: of imitative origin