squealn.
/skwiːl/, U.S. /skwil/ 1.
a. A more or less prolonged sharp cry; a shrill scream. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
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
1747 J. Relph Misc. Poems 2 The shearers aw brast out In sweels of laughter.
1776 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. (ed. 4, octavo) I. i. 95* It is observable that the male otters never make any noise when taken: but the pregnant females emit a most shrill squeal.
1786 R. Burns Holy Fair xiii, in Poems 47 His lengthen'd chin, his turn'd up snout, His eldritch squeel an' gestures.
1834 F. Marryat Jacob Faithful II. ii. 38 All of a sudden we heard a rustling in the furze, and then a loud squeal.
1852 R. S. Surtees Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour ii. ix. 42 Some of the more lively of the horses..evinced their approbation of the move, by sundry squeals and capers.
1894 A. Birrell Ess. viii. 82 There is nothing..[they] like better than to hear the squeal of some self-torturing atom of humanity.
b. A sharp shrill sound.
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
1867 J. MacGregor Voy. Alone in Rob Roy i. 14 The shrill squeal of a pulley thrills my ear with pleasure.
1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 583 The shrill squeal of the wind, the roar of the thunder, and the rush of the rain.
2. Scottish. A quarrel or broil.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > quarrel or quarrelling > [noun] > noisy or angry quarrel > instance of
ganglinga1387
altercation1410
brawla1500
heat1549
wranglea1555
brabble1566
paroxysm1578
wrangling1580
brangle1600
branglement1617
rixation1623
row1746
skimmington1753
mêlée1765
breeze1785
squeal1788
hash1789
rook1808
blow-up1809
blowout1825
scena1826
reerie1832
catfight1854
barney1855
wigs on the green1856
bull and cow1859
scrap1890
slanging match1896
snap1897
up-and-downer1927
brannigan1941
rhubarb1941
bitch fight1949
punch-up1958
shout-up1965
shouting match1970
1788 E. Picken Poems & Epist. 65 Ye needna gang sae far afiel' To tell how Tea has bred a squeel.
3. U.S.
a. slang. An act of informing against another.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > informing on or against > [noun]
wrayingc1000
information1387
promotion?1533
talebearing1571
delation1578
sycophancy1622
peachery1654
blowing the gap1821
nosing1827
peaching1859
rounding1862
squeal1872
scream1915
singing1937
snouting1937
dobbing1968
whistle-blowing1971
1872 G. P. Burnham Mem. U.S. Secret Service 152 This ‘squeal’ among the ‘queersmen’ brings this foul business straight home to you.
1903 N.Y. Sun 5 Nov. 3 Ever since his so-called ‘squeal’ at the Lexow investigation he has been a marked man.
1907 ‘O. Henry’ Trimmed Lamp & Other Stories 185 I always thought that Kike's squeal on his boss was about the lowest-down play that ever happened.
b. Police slang. A call for police assistance or investigation; a report of a case investigated by the police.
ΚΠ
1949 S. Kingsley Detective Story i. 14 ‘This is Jim's squeal, ain't it?’.. ‘Yeah, I'll take it... This is my partner's case.’
1949 S. Kingsley Detective Story ii. 86 Get me the old files on that Cottsworth squeal!
1960 ‘E. McBain’ See them Die vii. 79 Parker's on the prowl, Hernandez is answering a squeal.
1972 B. Garfield Line of Succession (1974) i. 3 The first cop said, ‘Do it. Send in a squeal—we'll want the wagon.’
1973 ‘E. McBain’ Hail to Chief i. 6 The appearance of Homicide cops at the scene of a murder was mandatory, even though the subsequent investigation was handled by the precinct detectives catching the squeal.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
squealadj.
south-western dialect ? Obsolete.
Feeble, frail.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak
unmightyeOE
unferea1060
unwieldc1220
fade1303
lewc1325
weak1340
fainta1375
sicklyc1374
unwieldyc1386
impotent1390
delicatea1398
lowa1398
unmighta1450
unlustyc1450
low-brought1459
wearyc1480
failed1490
worn1508
caduke?1518
fainty1530
weak1535
debile1536
fluey1545
tewly?1547
faltering1549
puling1549
imbecilec1550
debilitate1552
flash1562
unable1577
unhealthful1595
unabled1597
whindling1601
infirm1608
debilitated1611
bedrid1629
washya1631
silly1636
fluea1645
tender1645
invaletudinary1661
languishant1674
valetudinaire?c1682
puly1688
thriftless1693
unheartya1699
wishy-washy1703
enervate1706
valetudinarian1713
lask1727
wersh1755
palliea1774
wankle1781
asthenic1789
atonic1792
squeal1794
adynamic1803
worn-down1814
totterish1817
asthenical1819
prostrate1820
used up1823
wankya1825
creaky1834
groggy1834
puny1838
imbeciled1840
rickety-rackety1840
muscleless1841
weedy1849
tottery1861
crocky1880
wimbly-wambly1881
ramshackle1889
twitterly1896
twittery1907
wonky1919
strung out1959
1794 J. Wolcot Royal Visit Exeter in Wks. (1816) III. 367 That he was weak, and ould, and squeal, And zeldom made a hearty meal.
1795 ‘P. Pindar’ Pindariana 210 Why should [he] be afraid of horns, Who married a poor squeal, starv'd cat, for money?
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
squealv.
/skwiːl/, U.S. /skwil/ 1. intransitive. To utter (or give out) a more or less prolonged loud sharp cry, esp. by reason of pain or sudden alarm; to scream shrilly:
a. Of persons.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by noises > voice or sound made by animal > make sound [verb (intransitive)] > squeak or squeal
squeala1300
wheak1513
whick1693
queek1707
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > cry or shout (loudness) > cry of emotion or pain > [verb (intransitive)] > scream or shriek
screama1200
shrikec1200
shreamc1230
shritcha1250
scritcha1300
squeala1300
skrike1340
skirlc1400
wrawlc1440
sharmc1485
screak?a1500
shrighta1542
shriek1567
screech1577
waul1601
bawl1605
squall1688
skreigh1718
screel1730
skelloch1808
squalino1810
to scream (also cry, yell, etc.) blue murder1828
rescream1858
a1300 Cursor Mundi 1344 A new born barn lay in þe croppe,..Þar him þoght it lay suelland [Gött. squeland].
c1480 (a1400) St. Machor 145 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 5 He..squelyt gret & raryt ȝarne, as kynd gaf to sic a barne.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 525 He ran..Fra place to place,..With mony schout ay squeilland like a kid.
1568 (a1508) W. Kennedy Flyting (Bannatyne) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 201 Baith Iohine the Ros and thow sall squeill and skirle.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) ii. ii. 24 Ghosts did shrieke and squeale about the streets. View more context for this quotation
1671 S. Skinner & T. Henshaw Etymologicon Linguæ Anglicanæ To Squall or Squeal out.
1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads 339 Enrag'd she..threw it from her, tore her hair, and squeal'd.
1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. xxxi. 235 She..took hold of my Arm so roughly, and gave me such a Pull, as made me squeal out.
1778 F. Burney Evelina II. xi. 82 They hide themselves, and run away, and squeel and squall like any thing mad.
1846 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in Wks. II. 92/2 He pinched my ear so bitterly, I was fain to squeel.
1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles & St. James (new ed.) xxxv, in Writings I. 362 But for appearances,..she'd have squealed no more than a rose-bud pulled from a bush.
b. Of animals or birds.
ΚΠ
a1400–50 Alexander 4112 For with þe sweling of þe swyne we sall þaim all voide.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid viii. vi. 112 The catell eik..Baith squeill and low in thai ilk plenteus gatis.
1535 [see sense 1a]. 1684 London Gaz. No. 1903/4 A Blood bay Stone Horse, between 14 and 15 hands high, being much given to bite and strike and squeel.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 134/2 When he sendeth forth his Cry,..a Rat Squeleth, or Squaketh.
1798 M. Edgeworth & R. L. Edgeworth Pract. Educ. II. App. 749 He bit off the ear of a pig because it squealed when he was ringing it.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xxiii. 290 Tern were very numerous, hundreds of them squealing and screeching in flocks.
1879 W. Black Macleod of Dare I. 167 You hear the rabbit squealing with fright long before the weasel is at him.
2. Of things: To emit or produce a shrill or strident sound.
ΘΚΠ
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
1600 [implied in: W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. v. 30 The vile squealing of the wry-neckt Fiffe.
1658 tr. G. della Porta Nat. Magick xix. 386 The voice is changed in divers tunes, one note is sweet and pleasant, two, squele and jar.
1727 W. Somerville Fables xiv. i Here tortur'd cats-gut squeals amain, Guittars in softer notes complain.
1824 R. Heber Jrnl. 1 Aug. in Narr. Journey Upper Provinces India (1828) I. ix. 181 Different musical instruments were strumming, thumping, squeeling, and rattling.
1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany vii. 99 Then the biniou or bagpipe squeals and grunts.
3. slang. To turn informer; to inform or ‘peach’ on a person. (Cf. squeak v. 2.)
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > informing on or against > inform on or against [verb (intransitive)]
inform1588
peach1598
whistle1599
sing1612
whiddlec1661
squeak1690
wheedle1710
whittle1735
to blow the gab1785
snitch1801
rat1810
nose1811
sing1816
gnarl1819
split1819
stag1839
clype1843
squeal1846
blow1848
to round on1857
nark1859
pimp1865
squawk1872
ruck1884
to come or turn copper1891
copper1897
sneak1897
cough1901
stool1911
tattle-tale1918
snout1923
talk1924
fink1925
scream1925
sarbut1928
grass1929
to turn over1967
dime1970
society > communication > information > informing on or against > inform on or against [verb (transitive)]
wrayc725
meldeOE
bimeldena1300
forgabc1394
to blow up?a1400
outsay?a1400
detectc1449
denounce1485
ascry1523
inform1526
promote1550
peach1570
blow1575
impeach1617
wheedle1710
split1795
snitch1801
cheep1831
squeal1846
to put away1858
spot1864
report1869
squawk1872
nose1875
finger1877
ruck1884
to turn over1890
to gag on1891
shop1895
pool1907
run1909
peep1911
pot1911
copper1923
finger1929
rat1932
to blow the whistle on1934
grass1936
rat1969
to put in1975
turn1977
1846 National Police Gaz. (U.S.) 15 Aug. 413/2 Some dozen of the infamous rogues, well known to them, who infest that city, will be ‘pulled’ until they find one that will ‘squeal’.
1864 J. C. Hotten Slang Dict. (new ed.) Squeal, to inform, peach. A north country variation of squeak.
1892 Gazette (Montreal) 5 Nov. 8/2 This revelation led Gideon to ‘squeal’ and he to-day fortified his statement..by much documentary evidence.
1896 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 29 Dec. 2/1 His pal,..who is now serving time for counterfeiting, and who squealed on him.
4. transitive. To utter or produce with a shrill, grating, or squeaking sound. Also with out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > shrill [verb (transitive)]
squeal1675
skirl1787
blat1931
1675 J. Covel Diary in J. T. Bent Early Voy. Levant (1893) 211 There are trumpets, which come in onely now and then to squeel out a loud note or two.
1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log II. i. 20 ‘Here, sir,’ squealed Timothy.
1871 L. Stephen Playground of Europe (1894) xii. 294 Pigs..squeal emphatic disapproval of their enforced journey.
1883 R. Gower My Reminisc. I. vii. 130 The fiddle squealed the old dance music of the old-fashioned quadrille.
5. quasi-adv. With a squeal.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > [adverb]
shilla1250
keenlyc1275
shirla1300
bremelya1375
sharp1377
shillya1400
shirlly1470
shrilly1582
whit1833
squeal1849
reedily1910
bleatingly1934
1849 J. W. Carlyle Lett. II. 56 Squeal went the engine; we were off.
Draft additions 1993
b. To cause (something, esp. the tyres of a motor vehicle) to make a squealing noise.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > specific movements or positions of aircraft > [verb (transitive)] > cause (tyres) to make squealing noise
squeal1965
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > movement of vehicles > move or go along [verb (transitive)] > of tyres
squeal1965
smoke1977
1965 J. A. Michener Source 5 As the two friends talked a jeep squealed its brakes outside the customs area.
1970 Current Slang (Univ. S. Dakota) 4 iii–iv. 19 Hot dog, one who shows off by squealing his tires and gunning his motor as he drives around among his friends.
1975 M. Duffy Capital iii. 119 A lone car squealed its tyres through his gate.
1982 J. D. MacDonald Cinnamon Skin xx. 218 The plane squealed its tires on the runway.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1747
adj.1794v.a1300