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Wail vs Squawk - What's the difference?

wail | squawk |

As nouns the difference between wail and squawk

is that wail is a prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish while squawk is a shrill noise, especially made by a voice or bird; a yell, scream, or call.

As verbs the difference between wail and squawk

is that wail is to cry out, as in sorrow or anguish or wail can be (obsolete) to choose; to select while squawk is to make a squawking noise; to yell, scream, or call out shrilly.

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

    squawk

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A shrill noise, especially made by a voice or bird; a yell, scream, or call.
  • (aviation) A four-digit transponder code used by aircraft for identification or transmission of emergency signals.
  • (aviation) An issue or complaint related to aircraft maintenance.
  • The American night heron.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make a squawking noise; to yell, scream, or call out shrilly.
  • *
    • The hens woke up squawking with terror because they had all dreamed simultaneously of hearing a gun go off in the distance.
  • To speak out; to protest.
  • To report an infraction; to rat on or tattle; to disclose a secret.
  • (aviation) To set or transmit a four-digit transponder code.

    • Conjugation

    (en-conj-simple) English onomatopoeias