cack

Definition

A squawk.

Etymology

Onomatopoeia; see cackle.

Example Sentences

• "Of course, so excitable a nature must find other than physical outlet for his irrepressible energy, and he accompanies his movements by more or less appropriate notes: scolding cacks, clinking, metallic rattles, musical trills, tree-toadlike krrrings – in fact, he possesses an almost endless vocabulary ."
• "[…]for on occasions he gives utterance to an entirely uncharacteristic series of cacking notes, and even mounts high in the tree to sing a hesitating medley of the same unmusical cacks, broken whistled calls, and attempted trills."
• "When birds approach their cliffs in the spring, they often emit a series of rapidly repeated cacks, or notes of varying pitches. Sometimes the notes are very spirited; others are very soft. Male cacks tend to be higher pitched than those of females."