caterwauling

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word caterwauling. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word caterwauling, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say caterwauling in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word caterwauling you have here. The definition of the word caterwauling will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofcaterwauling, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

From caterwaul +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

Noun

caterwauling (plural caterwaulings)

  1. gerund of caterwaul: a sound that caterwauls.
    • 1762 December 8 (first performance), [Isaac Bickerstaffe], Love in a Village; a Comic Opera. , 4th edition, London: W. Griffin; for J Newbery, and W. Nicoll, ; G Kearsley, ; T Davies, ; and J. Walter, , published 1763, →OCLC, Act II, scene ii, page 26:
      VVhy, here is nothing in the vvorld in this houſe but catter-vvavvling from morning till night, nothing but catter-vvavvling. Hoity toity! vvho have vve here?
    • 1918, Eleanor H. Porter, Oh, Money! Money!:
      Now, I like a good tune what is a tune; but them caterwaulings and dirges that that chap Gray plays on that fiddle of his—gorry, Mr. Smith, I'd rather hear the old barn door at home squeak any day.

Verb

caterwauling

  1. present participle and gerund of caterwaul