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Howl

//haʊl// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The protracted, mournful cry of a dog, wolf or other canid; also of other animals.

    "[T]he fox was out on love-adventures, abused his rivals, and uttered scoffing screams and howls."

  2. 2
    a long loud emotional utterance wordnet
  3. 3
    Any similar sound.

    "The howl of the wind"

  4. 4
    a loud sustained noise resembling the cry of a hound wordnet
  5. 5
    A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    the long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.

    "Methought a legion of foul fiends / Environ'd me about, and howled in my ears."

  2. 2
    laugh unrestrainedly and heartily wordnet
  3. 3
    To utter a sound expressive of pain or distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.

    "Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand."

  4. 4
    make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles wordnet
  5. 5
    To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.

    "They howled with laughter at the prank."

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    emit long loud cries wordnet
  2. 7
    To utter with outcry.

    "to howl derision"

  3. 8
    cry loudly, as of animals wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English howlen, houlen, from Old English *hūlian, from Proto-West Germanic *hūilōn, from Proto-Germanic *hūwilōną, *hiuwilōną (“to howl”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *kū-, *kew- (“to howl, scream”). Likely of imitative origin. Cognate with Saterland Frisian huulje (“to howl”), Dutch huilen (“to cry”), Romanian a hăuli (“to howl”), Old French ouler, German Low German hulen (“to howl”), German heulen (“to howl”), Danish hyle (“to howl”), Swedish yla (“to scream, yell”), Northern Luri آلٛیر (āłir, “howl”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English howlen, houlen, from Old English *hūlian, from Proto-West Germanic *hūilōn, from Proto-Germanic *hūwilōną, *hiuwilōną (“to howl”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *kū-, *kew- (“to howl, scream”). Likely of imitative origin. Cognate with Saterland Frisian huulje (“to howl”), Dutch huilen (“to cry”), Romanian a hăuli (“to howl”), Old French ouler, German Low German hulen (“to howl”), German heulen (“to howl”), Danish hyle (“to howl”), Swedish yla (“to scream, yell”), Northern Luri آلٛیر (āłir, “howl”).

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