howl

Meanings

Noun

• The protracted, mournful cry of a dog, wolf or other canid; also of other animals.
• Any similar sound.
• A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.

Verb

• To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
• To utter a sound expressive of pain or distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.
• To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.
• To utter with outcry.

Origin

• From Middle English howlen, houlen, from Old English *hūlian, from Proto-West Germanic *hūwilōn, from Proto-Germanic *hūwilōną, *hiuwilōną, from Proto-Indo-European *kū-, *kew-.
• Cognate with Saterland Frisian huulje, Dutch huilen, Old French ouler, German Low German hulen, German heulen, Danish hyle, Swedish yla, Northern Luri آلٛیر.