caterwaul

verb

cat·er·waul ˈka-tər-ˌwȯl

caterwauled; caterwauling; caterwauls

Synonyms of caterwaul

intransitive verb

: to make a harsh cry

: to protest or complain noisily

caterwaul noun

Did you know?

Though the most familiar sense of caterwaul, “to protest or complain loudly,” is not specific to our feline friends, we still think it’s the cat’s meow, and not without good reason. Caterwaul first appeared in English in the 1300s as a verb applied to the wailing sounds made by cats when on the prowl for a mate. The word comes from the Middle English word caterwawen (also caterwrawen), but its origins beyond that are obscure. The cater part is thought to be connected to the cat, but scholars disagree about whether it traces to the Middle Dutch word cāter, meaning “tomcat,” or if it is merely cat with an “-er” added. Wawen is probably imitative in origin, approximating one of the domestic kitty’s many vocalizations. By the 1600s caterwaul was also being used for similar non-cat noises and later as a noun referring to noisy people or things.

Examples of caterwaul in a Sentence

Some animal was caterwauling in my backyard last night. He continues to caterwaul about having to take the blame.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

That said, Shelton’s lyrics are much more darkly relatable and heartbreaking than someone caterwauling about being their own worst enemy. —Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2023 An ambulance caterwauled down Sunset Boulevard, which runs parallel one block below. —Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Oct. 2022