caterwaul

/ˈkæt.ə.wɔːl/

UK: /ˈkæt.ə.wɔːl/

KÆT · ə · wɔːl (3 syllables)

English Verb

Definition

To cry as cats in heat; to make a harsh, offensive noise.

Etymology

From Middle English caterwrawen, from cater (“cat”) + wrawen, wrawlen (“cry like a cat”), equivalent to cat + waul. Compare Low German katerwaulen (“to cry like a cat”) and Middle Dutch cater (“tomcat”) (Dutch kater).