Mewl
/mjuːl/noun
To cry or whimper in a weak, plaintive way.
Did you know?English mewl is a later expressive formation tied to the same sound-symbolic family as mew, originally imitating a small, weak cry rather than carrying any hidden magical meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
mewlen
“to whimper, whine, or cry weakly”
Early Modern English
English
mewl
“to cry in a plaintive, feeble way”
Modern English
English
mewl
“to whine or cry in a weak, complaining manner”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mei-
“to utter a small sound, or possibly to change/move; the exact root connection is uncertain and not securely established for mewl”