bleat

Meanings

Noun

• The characteristic cry of a sheep or a goat.

Verb

• Of a sheep or goat, to make its characteristic cry; of a human, to mimic this sound.
• Of a person, to complain.

Related

Similar words

• baa, baaing, bleating
• baa
• kvetch , moan, whinge , whine

Origin

• From Middle English bleten, from Old English blǣtan, from Proto-West Germanic *blātijan, from Proto-Germanic *blētijaną. Cognate with Scots blete, bleit, West Frisian bâlte, blaaien, blêtsje, Dutch blaten, Low German bleten, German blaßen, blässen.