| 释义 |
▪ I. growl, n.|graʊl|
[f. growl v.3]
1. a. An act of growling; a low angry guttural sound uttered by an animal.
1727Gay Fables i. xliii. 32 Let him the lion first control, And still the tiger's famished growl. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) III. 225 When enraged he has a different growl, which is short, broken, and reiterated. 1843Macaulay Lays Anc. Rome, Virginia 222 The growl of a fierce watch⁓dog but half-aroused from sleep. 1884Manch. Exam. 7 Oct. 5/7 The lowing of the kine, the growls of the camels.
fig.1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. II. 609 The general voice of the kingdom, however, effectually drowned the growl of this hateful faction.
b. transf. Of cannon, an earthquake, thunder, etc.: A rumble.
1833J. Martineau Ess., Rev. & Addr. (1890) I. 10 All was quiet on the surface, not a growl was heard, not a vibration felt. 1859Helps Friends in C. Ser. ii. II. ii. 41 The solemn growl of philosophic thunder. 1899Q. Rev. Apr. 429 The distant growl of cannon.
2. An expression of anger or dissatisfaction uttered by human beings.
1821Lamb Elia Ser. i. Old Benchers I.T., Many a sarcastic growl did the latter cast out. 1853Kingsley Hypatia xvi, An ominous growl rose from the mob of monks. 1884S. J. Reid Life Syd. Smith xiii. 342 The muttered growl with which the eclipsed poet relieved his overcharged feelings.
3. In Jazz, a deep rasping sound made on a wind instrument. Also attrib.
1935Hot News Aug. 18/3 He used the non-pressure method common to most white players, producing a tone..with just a suggestion of a growl. 1946R. Blesh Shining Trumpets (1949) ii. xii. 280 Here, too, is the growl trumpet, an atmospheric part of the tissue paper jungle in which the band was then ensconced. 1959‘F. Newton’ Jazz Scene vii. 122 Bubber Miley (1902–32) pioneered the systematic use of the mute and the ‘growl’. 1961Times 20 May 11/4 The art of ‘growl’ trumpet playing has declined so much over the years.
▪ II. † growl, v.1 Obs. rare—1.
[ad. MDu. growelen, gruwelen used impersonally in same sense.]
impers. it growls me: I have a feeling of terror or horror.
1481Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 78 That ther sholde..suche wrake be taken therof that hym myght growle that ever he sawe hym.
▪ III. † growl, v.2 Obs. rare—1.
[ad. F. grouiller in the same sense.]
intr. To swarm.
1542Udall Erasm. Apoph. 158 He dyed of lyce contynually growlyng out of his fleshe as Scylla and Herode didde.
▪ IV. growl, v.3|graʊl|
Also 8 groul.
[Prob. an echoic formation; cf. gurl v.
Exc. for the one instance under 1 a, and one instance of the vbl. n. grolling, the word has not been found before the 17th c. The continuity of the word is doubtful; it may however have been preserved in some dialect. Walter de Bibbysworth (13th c.) uses AF. growler as the distinctive verb for the cry of the crane (grwe), and grouler, grouller occurs in OF. and mod. north-east Fr. with the sense ‘to grumble, scold’. The latter appears to be adopted from Teut.; cf. MDu., Du., LG., MHG., mod.G. grollen to growl, to sulk, nurse wrath: see grill v.1]
1. intr.
†a. Of the bowels: To rumble; = gurl v. Obs. rare—1. (Cf. grolling vbl. n.)
c138.Wyclif Serm. in Sel. Wks. II. 249 (MS.I) As a mete..not defied..makiþ mannis bodi to groule [other MSS. gurle].
b. Of an animal: To utter a low guttural sound, expressive of rising anger.
a1667Skinner Etym. Angl. (1671), To Growl, à Teut. Groll..Grollen. 1705[see growling ppl. a.]. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. ii, He started up growling at first, but finding his Leg broke fell down again, and then got up upon three Legs, and gave the most hideous Roar that ever I heard. 1783Cowper Let. 17 June, Wks. (1876) 135 A surly mastiff will bear perhaps to be stroked, though he will growl even under that operation. 1836W. Irving Astoria II. 106 The bear..turned, reared, showed his teeth, and growled. 1859Tennyson Enid 1411 He fears To lose his bone, and lays his foot upon it Gnawing and growling.
fig.1848W. K. Kelly tr. L. Blanc's Hist. Ten Y. I. 72 England was growling; Canning was showing his teeth. 1899A. Lang in Longm. Mag. July 281 The cat..growled to keep them away, just as newspapers growl at foreign nations.
c. transf. Of thunder, etc.: To rumble.
1727–46Thomson Summer 1134 At first, heard solemn o'er the verge of heaven, The tempest growls. 1805Wordsw. Waggoner i. 152 The thunder had begun to growl. 1833M. Scott Tom Cringle xvi. (1859) 446 A strong murmuring noise like the rushing of many waters growled amongst the ranks. 1864Skeat Uhland's Poems 242 Low growls the distant thunder. 1958Spectator 15 Aug. 225/2 The bulldozers of the New Towns growl nearer. 1970Observer (Colour Suppl.) 15 Feb. 24/1 The big jets of Qantas and BOAC growl in and out daily on their way round the world.
2. Of persons:
a. intr. To murmur angrily.
1707Reflex. upon Ridicule 328 He Growls, he Rages, he Swears. 1714Gay What d'ye call it Prelim. Scene, He would rave..about a foolish flower'd Handkerchief!—and then he would groul so manfully. 1782F. Burney Diary Dec., Though he pretended to growl, he was evidently delighted. 1822W. Irving Braceb. Hall (1823) I. 103 One of those who eat and growl, and keep the waiter on the trot. 1857Holland Bay Path v. 69 He's no business to growl and talk about money.
b. trans. To utter or express with a growl or in a growling manner: with simple n., quoted words, or clause as obj. Also with out.
1758Johnson Idler No. 53 ⁋12 She growls out her discontent. 1784Cowper Task vi. 376 Each animal..growled defiance in such angry sort, As [etc.]. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xxiii, Bonthron was silent for an instant, then growled out,—‘He is too mighty for me to name’. 1847Tennyson Princ. v. 199 Here he reach'd White hands of farewell to my sire, who growl'd An answer. 1876E. Jenkins Blot on Queen's H. 17 A few of the waiters there growled that they were obliged to play second-fiddle. 1880L. Stephen Pope iv. 81 Dennis..continued to growl out criticisms against the triumphant poet.
3. intr. Of a wind instrument: to make a low, rasping sound. Of a musician: to make such a sound on an instrument. Also trans., to play (music) in a growling manner.
1935N. E. Williams His Hi de Highness of Ho de Ho 35 Even white musicians will say ‘growl it’ to a trumpet player when they are asking him to play it ‘lowdown’ or ‘dirty’. 1935Hot News Apr. 19/1 He has the dirtiest tones imaginable, using his hand in front of the bell to produce a unique growling effect. Ibid. Aug. 6/2 Only a trumpeter who can growl well is necessary. 1935Metronome Nov. 25/3 A trumpet..growls really effectively for a change. 1955Duke Ellington in Shapiro & Hentoff Hear Me Talkin' to Ya xii. 195 Everybody told him he'd have to use a plunger and growl all night long.
Hence (nonce-wds.) ˈgrowlsome a., inclined to growl; ˈgrowly a., resembling a growl.
1882L. Keith Alasnam's Lady I. 149 You are not as growlsome as some men I know. 1893M. E. Hullah My Aunt Const. Jane iii. 91 A gruff growly voice. |