Bawl
/bɔːl/noun
To cry or shout loudly and uncontrollably.
Did you know?The word’s history is messy and uncertain, but it likely developed from older sound-imitation forms tied to loud crying and shouting rather than any elegant classical root.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
baulen
“to cry out loudly, wail, or shout”
15th–16th Century
English
bawlen
“to howl or cry loudly”
Early Modern English
English
bawl
“to shout or weep noisily”
Modern English
English
bawl
“to cry or shout loudly and uncontrollably”