Wail vs Caterwauling - What's the difference?
wail | caterwauling | Related terms |
A prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.
Any similar sound as of lamentation; a howl.
A sound made by emergency vehicle sirens, contrasted with "yelp" which is higher-pitched and faster.
To cry out, as in sorrow or anguish.
To weep, lament persistently or bitterly.
To make a noise like mourning or crying.
To lament; to bewail; to grieve over.
(slang, music) To perform with great liveliness and force.
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(obsolete) To choose; to select.
* Henryson
A sound that caterwauls.
* Eleanor H. Porter, Oh, Money! Money!
Wail is a related term of caterwauling.
As nouns the difference between wail and caterwauling
is that wail is a prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish while caterwauling is a sound that caterwauls.As verbs the difference between wail and caterwauling
is that wail is to cry out, as in sorrow or anguish or wail can be (obsolete) to choose; to select while caterwauling is .wail
English
Etymology 1
Probably from (etyl)Etymology inWebster's Dictionary
Noun
(en noun)- She let out a loud, doleful wail .
- The wail of snow-dark winter winds.
- A bird's wail in the night.
Verb
(en verb)- The wind wailed and the rain streamed down.
- to wail one's death
- (Shakespeare)
Derived terms
* wailer * wailinglyReferences
Etymology 2
Compare Icelandic word for "choice".Verb
(en verb)- Wailed wine and meats
caterwauling
English
Verb
(head)Noun
(en noun)- Now, I like a good tune what is a tune; but them caterwaulings and dirges that that chap Gray plays on that fiddle of his—gorry, Mr. Smith, I'd rather hear the old barn door at home squeak any day.