Caterwauling
/ˈkætəˌwɔːlɪŋ/noun
Loud, shrill, complaining noise or crying.
Did you know?Caterwaul originally referred to the yowling of cats in heat, and English speakers turned that eerie sound into a verb for any harsh, raucous human noise.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
caterwawlen
“To make a shrill, catlike cry; to yowl”
Middle English
English
cater
“Cat”
Middle English
English
waulen
“To yowl, howl, or wail”
Old English
OE
catt
“Cat”
Old English
OE
wōlian
“To howl, lament”
Modern English
English
caterwaul
“To make a harsh, shrill, complaining noise”