shrilln.
/ʃrɪl/, U.S. /ʃrɪl/ A shrill sound, cry, whistle, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > [noun] > sound
shrill1591
shrilling1639
scriding?1690
skirling1820
whit1853
squeal1867
blat1904
whee1920
whine1928
blatting1935
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > cry or shout (loudness) > cry of emotion or pain > [noun] > scream or shriek
squealingc1325
skriking1340
shrikingc1374
shritchingc1374
skrikea1400
blaringc1440
shritch1470
scritchinga1500
shrikea1500
screak1513
skirl1513
wauling1533
wrawling1533
screamingc1540
scritch1548
skreighc1550
shright1558
screech1560
screaking1565
screeching1589
shriek1590
shrill1591
shirl1598
shrieking1602
screama1616
squalling1677
squall1709
squeal1747
skelloch1808
skreighing1816
skirling1820
sharming1823
shriekery1865
squee1938
1591 E. Spenser Ruines of Time in Complaints 581 I heard a voyce, which loudly to me called, That with the sudden shrill I was appalled.
1832 D. Brewster Lett. Nat. Magic viii. 179 The wiry shrill of the Jew's harp.
1893 Month Sept. 19 The ceaseless shrill of the Cicala.
1904 S. Macnaughtan Gift i. vi The Gillie-Callum ended with a final shrill of the pipes.
Compounds
shrill-vein n. = shrilling-organ n. at shrilling n. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > subclass Pterygota > [noun] > division Exopterygota or Hemimetabola > order Hemiptera > suborder Homoptera > family Cicadidae > sound-producing organ
shrill-vein1880
shrilling-organ-
1880 A. H. Swinton Insect Variety 163 In Odontura Fischeri..the shrill-vein [is] simply bowed instead of S-shaped.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
shrilladj.adv.
/ʃrɪl/, U.S. /ʃrɪl/ A. adj.
1. Of voice, sound: Of a sharp high-pitched piercing tone.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > [adjective]
shillOE
brightOE
shrillc1386
sharp1390
keena1400
shirl1418
piercingc1425
acute1504
shrillish1583
shrilly1594
ear-piercinga1616
sonable1623
oxytonous1653
argute1719
snellc1730
chanticleering1786
criard1840
squealing1879
shrilled1880
bird-high1920
bleaty1925
stainless steel1963
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > shrill or forced
shrillc1386
shirl1418
straineda1542
treble1550
efforced1590
shrilly1594
minikin1602
stridulous1646
feigned1664
extended1699
pipy1769
falsetto1826
screechy1834
stridulent1874
roofy1897
taut1916
c1386 G. Chaucer Nun's Priest's Tale (Hengwrt) 575 Ne made he neuere showtes half so shrille [MSS. Ellesmere & Lansd. s(c)hill(e] When þat they wolden any flemyng kille.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 7 Smale briddes..With shrikes full shrille in the shire bowes.
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus i. f. 11v All voyces, great and small, base & shril, weke or softe.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) Induct. ii. 45 Thy hounds shall..fetch shrill ecchoes from the hollow earth. View more context for this quotation
1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia Isagoge sig. C2 That [sc. the noise] of the bee is humming, but it's shrill in the grassehopper.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 7 The shrill Matin Song Of Birds. View more context for this quotation
1742 W. Collins Persian Eclogues iv. 24 Loud along the Vale was heard A shriller Shriek.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. i. 229 The shrill chirruping of innumerable insects.
1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay i. 16 A sweet, slightly shrill soprano.
2.
a. Emitting or producing a sound of this kind: of persons or animals, their throats, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > [adjective] > making shrill sound
squealinga1400
shrill1508
pipinga1522
shrilling1566
shrill-bated1582
shirling1592
shrilledc1602
screaming1616
skirling1786
blatting1890
1508 J. Stanbridge Vulgaria (W. de W.) B v b My brest is shryll. Vox mea est sonora.
1605 1st Pt. Jeronimo sig. E Weele be as shrill as you: strike a larum drum.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. ii. 18 I heare a Tongue shriller then all the Musicke Cry, Cæsar. View more context for this quotation
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) cxlvii. x Let the shrill Birds his Honours raise.
1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 569 The first larum of the cock's shrill throat.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. i. vii. 71 Shrill women cry shame on us.
1866 H. J. W. Buxton Mysteries of Isis 207 Churl and noble, fair lady and shrill fish-wife.
1901 Macmillan's Mag. Apr. 447/1 One of his colleagues became shrill on the subject.
b. of an instrument or other inanimate object.
ΚΠ
a1566 R. Edwards Damon & Pithias (1571) sig. Bijv Whose vertue, the shrill trump of fame so farre hath blowne.
1603 E. Fairfax Eclogues iv Ambling along the meads and rivers shrill.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iii. 356 Farewell the neighing Steed, and the shrill Trumpe. View more context for this quotation
1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 5 Wind the shrill Horn.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe II. xv. 292 The blast of a shrill bugle.
1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful III. ix. 144 The shrill whistles of the boatswain and his mates piping all hands to unmoor.
3. Characterized or accompanied by sharp high-pitched sounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > [adjective] > accompanied by shrill sound
shrill1725
1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. iv. 1013 Shrill ecstasies of joy.
1812 Ld. Byron Adieu, Adieu! iv, in Childe Harold: Cantos I & II i. 11 Let winds be shrill, let waves roll high.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. iii. vi. 201 A shrill scene, but a brief one.
1844 A. W. Kinglake Eothen i. 10 In a shrill and busy hotel.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. vi. 53 The night was black and shrill.
1893 W. Pater Plato 209 A single day of somewhat shrill gaiety, between two days of significant mourning.
4. In various transferred applications: Keen; sharp; pungent; poignant. Also of colours: bright, glaring.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adjective]
retheeOE
hotOE
strongOE
woodlyc1000
un-i-rideOE
stoura1122
brathc1175
unridec1175
unrudec1225
starklyc1275
toughc1275
wood1297
ragec1330
unrekena1350
biga1375
furialc1386
outrageousc1390
savagea1393
violenta1393
bremelya1400
snarta1400
wrothlya1400
fightingc1400
runishc1400
dour?a1425
derfc1440
churlousa1450
roida1450
fervent1465
churlish1477
orgulous1483
felona1500
brathfula1522
brathlya1525
fanatic1533
furious1535
boisterous1544
blusterous1548
ungentle1551
sore1563
full-mouthed1594
savage wild1595
Herculean1602
shrill1608
robustious1612
efferous1614
thundering1618
churly1620
ferocient1655
turbulent1656
efferate1684
knock-me-down1760
haggard-wild1786
ensanguined1806
rammish1807
fulminatory1820
riproarious1830
natural1832
survigrous1835
sabre-toothed1849
cataclysmal1861
thunderous1874
fierce1912
cataractal1926
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > type or quality of hearing > [adjective] > good hearing
pregnant1607
shrill1608
the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > lamentation or expression of grief > weeping > [adjective] > shed in weeping > attributes of tears
saltc1175
wanc1540
brinish1580
briny1608
shrill1608
swellinga1616
sea-salt1897
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] > pungent
sharpc1000
hotc1175
poignantc1387
keen1398
angryc1400
eager?c1400
tartc1405
argutec1420
mordicative?a1425
mordificative?a1425
piperinea1425
pungitive?a1425
pikea1475
vehement1490
oversharpa1500
over-stronga1500
penetrating?1576
penetrative1578
quick1578
piercing1593
exalted1594
mordicant1603
acute1620
toothed1628
pungent1644
piquant1645
tartarous1655
mordacious1657
piperate1683
peppery1684
tartish1712
hyperoxide1816
snell1835
mordanta1845
shrill1864
piperitious1890
the world > matter > colour > quality of colour > [adjective] > garish
violenta1522
garisha1568
savage1706
raw1763
criard1840
tranchant1841
flagrant1858
blaring1866
criant1876
screamy1882
screaming1883
raucous1919
shrieking1958
shrill1973
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 57 A shrill and quicke sence of hearing.
1650 H. Vaughan Silex Scintillans Admission How shrill are silent tears!
1864 Ld. Tennyson Voyage 12 The Lady's-head upon the prow Caught the shrill salt.
1904 M. Hewlett Queen's Quair i. viii The Court went thither [i.e. to St. Andrews] with various great affairs in train, whose conduct throve in that shrill air.
1973 D. Lessing Coll. Afr. Stories II. 117 She wore a tight shrill green dress.
B. adv.† 2. Clearly, brightly. Obsolete.
1.
a. With a shrill voice or tone; shrilly. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adverb] > shrill
shirla1300
shrilla1400
shirlly1470
shrilly1582
treble1811
a1400 Coer de L. 3999 For scorne he gan to lawghe schrylle.
a1450 Le Morte Arth. 1376 ‘Mercy!’ she cryed loude and shrylle.
?1518 Cocke Lorelles Bote sig. C.ijv The bote swayne blewe his whystell full shryll.
1592 T. Kyd Trueth Murthering of Brewen 1 The blood of the iust Abel cried most shrill in the eares of the righteous God.
1645 J. Milton L'Allegro in Poems 32 Through the high wood echoing shrill.
1742 W. Collins Persian Eclogues ii. 11 Shrill roar'd the Winds.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth II. xiii. 326 Men laughed loud, and maidens giggled shrill.
1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein I. xi. 320 I promise you the wind blew shrill.
b. Qualifying a participial adjective used attributively (often hyphenated).
ΚΠ
1555 J. Heywood Two Hundred Epigrammes with Thyrde sig. C.iiv A shryll whystlyng wenche.
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. i. 132 The Cocke..with his earely and shrill crowing [1604 shrill sounding] throate.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) iii. iii. 118 Your shrill-shriking Daughters. View more context for this quotation
1652 E. Benlowes Theophila i. lxii. 9 Shall Larks with shrill-chirpt Mattens rouze from Bed..Sols orient Head?
1867 W. Morris Life & Death of Jason ii. 25 While the harp-string and shrill-piping reed Still sounded.
1878 in G. P. Lathrop Masque of Poets 105 The shrill-blown trumpets.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > intensity of light > [adverb] > brightly
brighteOE
lightOE
shireOE
fairOE
brightlyOE
sheen?c1225
shirelyc1230
sheenly1340
clearlya1375
shininglyc1384
clearc1385
cleana1400
shrillc1400
enclerea1440
lucidentlyc1508
sheerly1508
splendently1576
shiny1596
nitently1657
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 80 Wyth schymerynge schene ful schrylle þay schynde.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
shrill-accented adj.
ΚΠ
1896 R. Kipling Seven Seas 141 Inopportune, shrill-accented, The acrid Asiatic mirth.
shrill-edged adj.
ΚΠ
1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud i. iv, in Maud & Other Poems 3 The shrill-edged shriek of a mother.
shrill-like adj.
ΚΠ
1658 J. Rowland tr. T. Moffett Theater of Insects in Topsell's Hist. Four-footed Beasts (rev. ed.) 953 It maketh a shril-like noise as the other kindes of Gnats do.
shrill-mouthed adj.
ΚΠ
1629 F. Quarles Argalus & Parthenia iii. 104 The shrill mouth'd musicke.
shrill-sounding adj.
ΚΠ
1838 E. A. Poe Narr. Arthur Gordon Pym xxiii. 188 A shrill-sounding and phantom voice screamed within my ears.
shrill-toned adj.
ΚΠ
1813 W. S. Walker Poems 90 Thro' night's dim arch the shrillton'd Ezzan rings.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair liv. 482 The shrill-toned bell of the..clock.
shrill-tongued adj.
ΚΠ
1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Fijv Like shrill-tongu'd Tapsters answering euerie call. View more context for this quotation
1743 R. Blair Grave 28 The shrill-tongu'd Shrew.
1879 J. Morley Burke viii. 176 The eager, bustling, shrill-tongued crowd of the Voltairean age.
shrill-tuned adj.
ΚΠ
a1649 W. Drummond Poems (1656) 149 The gawdy Hunts-man winds his shrill-tun'd Horne.
shrill-voiced adj. (also transferred and figurative)
ΚΠ
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II v. iii. 73 What shril voice suppliant makes this eger crie?
1628 R. Hayman tr. J. Owen Certaine Epigrams iv. 33 in Quodlibets The World's so full of shrill-voyc'd iangling.
1728 J. Thomson Spring 30 The Lark, Shrill-voiced, and loud.
1895 A. C. Wilson After Five Years in India 271 ‘My husband’ is the shrill-voiced reply.
1920 A. Huxley Leda 15 The sky Was full of strange tumult suddenly—Beating of mighty wings and shrill-voiced fear.
1960 R. Campbell tr. P. d'Arcos Nostalgia 44 The voiceless city of the shrill-voiced lights.
C2. † shrill-bated adj. Obsolete with a shrill sound as of voices in strife.† shrill-breasted adj. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > [adjective] > making shrill sound
squealinga1400
shrill1508
pipinga1522
shrilling1566
shrill-bated1582
shirling1592
shrilledc1602
screaming1616
skirling1786
blatting1890
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 13 Gates with the metal dooe creake in shrilbated harshing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > shrill or forced > having
shrill-breasted1594
shrill-gorged1608
1594 T. Nashe Vnfortunate Traveller sig. K As many sortes of shrill breasted birdes, as the Summer hath allowed for singing men in her siluane chappels.
† †shrill-gorged adj. Obsolete shrill-voiced, shrill-throated.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > shrill or forced > having
shrill-breasted1594
shrill-gorged1608
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xx. 58 The shrill gorg'd larke. View more context for this quotation
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
shrillv.
/ʃrɪl/, U.S. /ʃrɪl/ 1. intransitive. Of a voice, cry: To sound shrilly. Hence of noises, the wind, or the like, or a place echoing with sound.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > sound shrill [verb (intransitive)]
shrill13..
skelloch1808
bleat1880
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [verb (intransitive)] > utter in shrill voice > sound shrilly
shrill13..
13.. K. Alis. 777 Bulsifal neied so loude, That hit schrillith into the cloude!
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 35 The inner lodgins dyd shrille with clamorus howting.
1591 E. Spenser Virgil's Gnat in Complaints sig. K2 Their mightie strokes so shrild, As the great clap of thunder.
1647 H. More Philos. Poems ii. App. iii Its tearing noise so terribly did shrill, That it the heavens did shake.
1782 W. J. Mickle Prophecy Queen Emma iv When the female scream ascended, Shrilling o'er the crowded lawn.
1811 W. Scott Don Roderick xix. 25 First shrilled an unrepeated female shriek!
1842 Ld. Tennyson Morte d'Arthur in Poems (new ed.) II. 13 A wind, that shrills All night in a waste land.
1884 L. Wallace Ben-Hur iv. iv. 166 His voice shrilled with passion.
2. To speak, cry, or sing with a shrill voice; to make a shrill noise.
a. Of persons or animals.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > speak in a particular manner [verb (intransitive)] > shrilly or in a weak voice
creakc1440
shrillc1440
peep1567
chirp1604
pipe1675
peek1808
cheep1813
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [verb (intransitive)] > utter in thin or weak voice
shrillc1440
peep1567
chirp1604
peek1808
cheep1813
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > sound shrill [verb (intransitive)] > make shrill sound
yellOE
pipec1275
treblec1425
shrillc1440
squail1526
squeal1600
skirl1827
blat1846
whine1874
whit1899
zing1899
whee1960
c1400 Anturs of Arth. xlviii Þene his lemmane one loft skrilles and skrikes.]
c1440 Floriz & Bl. (Trentham) 756 Þe mayde, al for drede, Bygan to shrelle [earlier MSS. crie, schrichen] and to grede.
1595 E. Spenser Epithalamion in Amoretti & Epithalamion v. sig. G6 The Ouzell shrills, the Ruddock warbles soft.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Querulare..to shril, to..chirp.
1639 H. Ainsworth Annot. Five Bks. Moses, Bk. Psalmes & Song of Songs Psalm v. 12 To showt, shrill, or cry aloud for sorrow.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. ii. vi. 132 The Tribune drones,..the whole Hall shrilling up round it into pretty frequent wrath and provocation.
1896 A. Austin England's Darling i. ii. 8 The misselthrush That shrilled so gleefully.
b. Of an instrument of music, whistle, etc.
ΚΠ
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Nov. 71 Breake we our pypes, that shrild as lowde as Larke.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. iii. sig. Pv A horne, that shrilled cleare Throughout the wood.
1710 A. Philips Pastorals iv. 56 Thro' all the Wood his Pipe is heard to shrill.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Sir Galahad i, in Poems (new ed.) II. 174 The shattering trumpet shrilleth high.
1879 E. Gosse New Poems 100 The first sharp snow is shrilling through the trees.
1903 R. Kipling Five Nations 114 The whistle shrills to the picket.
3. transitive. To utter, give forth (a sound, cry, words) in shrill tones; to exclaim or proclaim with a shrill voice. Also with out.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > in shrill voice
pipe1567
shrill1595
treble?1624
screech1639
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > impart specific tone or quality [verb (transitive)] > utter in shrill voice
pipe1567
shrill1595
screech1639
1595 E. Spenser Epithalamion in Amoretti & Epithalamion viii. sig. G7v Harke how the Minstrels gin to shrill aloud, Their merry Musick.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida v. iii. 87 Harke..How poore Andromache shrils her dolours foorth. View more context for this quotation
1613 T. Heywood Siluer Age iii. sig. H Through all th' Abysse, I haue shril'd thy daughters losse.
1613 T. Heywood Brazen Age ii. ii What better can describe his shape and terror Then all the pittious clamours shrild through Greece?
4. To render shrill. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > shrill [verb (transitive)] > make shrill
shrilla1777
a1777 S. Foote Nabob (1778) Prol. If age contracts my muscles, shrills my tone.
5. To summon with a shrill sound. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > command > command or bidding > command [verb (transitive)] > summon > by other sound
beme1508
clocka1535
cluck1583
hist1645
chuckle1690
shrill1859
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > shrill [verb (transitive)] > summon with shrill sound
shrill1859
1859 D. Masson Brit. Novelists iii. 204 The pibroch shrills them to the work they do.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1591
adj.adv.c1386
v.13..