Chirp
/tʃɜːrp/noun
A short, sharp sound made by small birds or insects.
Did you know?The sound we associate with birds is tied to ancient rituals, where the chirping of birds was believed to be messages from the spirit world.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱer-
“to cry out, to call”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κράζω (krázō)
“to cry out, to scream”
Old English
Old English
cyrf
“a sound or cry made by birds”
Middle English
Middle English
chirpen
“to make a short, sharp sound, as of a bird”
Modern English
English
chirp
“the sound made by small birds or insects, often indicating communication or alertness.”