Wail vs Brawl - What's the difference?

As nouns the difference between wail and brawl

is that wail is a prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish while brawl is a fight, usually with a large number of people involved.

As verbs the difference between wail and brawl

is that wail is to cry out, as in sorrow or anguish or wail can be (obsolete) to choose; to select while brawl is to engage in a brawl; to fight or quarrel.

wail

English

Etymology 1

Probably from (etyl) Etymology in Webster's Dictionary

Noun

(en noun)

A prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.

She let out a loud, doleful wail .

Any similar sound as of lamentation; a howl.

The wail of snow-dark winter winds.

A bird's wail in the night.

A sound made by emergency vehicle sirens, contrasted with "yelp" which is higher-pitched and faster.

Verb

(en verb)

To cry out, as in sorrow or anguish.

To weep, lament persistently or bitterly.

To make a noise like mourning or crying.

The wind wailed and the rain streamed down.

To lament; to bewail; to grieve over.

to wail one's death

(Shakespeare)

(slang, music) To perform with great liveliness and force.

Derived terms

* wailer * wailingly

References

Etymology 2

Compare Icelandic word for "choice".

Verb

(en verb)

(obsolete) To choose; to select.

* Henryson

Wailed wine and meats

(Webster 1913) English terms with homophones

brawl

English

(wikipedia brawl)

Noun

(en noun)

A fight, usually with a large number of people involved.

Verb

(en verb)

To engage in a brawl; to fight or quarrel.

To complain loudly; to scold.

To make a loud confused noise, as the water of a rapid stream running over stones.

* Wordsworth

where the brook brawls along the painful road