howl

From Middle English howlen, houlen, from Old English *hūlian, from Proto-West Germanic *hūilōn, from Proto-Germanic *hūwilōną, *hiuwilōną (“to howl”), from Proto-Indo-European *kū-, *kew- (“to howl, scream”).

Cognate with Saterland Frisian huulje (“to howl”), Dutch huilen (“to howl”), Romanian a hăuli (“to howl”), Old French ouler, German Low German hulen (“to howl”), German heulen (“to howl”), Danish hyle (“to howl”), Swedish yla (“to scream, yell”), Northern Luri آلٛیر (āłir, “howl”).

• enPR: houl, IPA^(key): /haʊl/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -aʊl

howl (plural howls)

1. The protracted, mournful cry of a dog, wolf or other canid; also of other animals.
   • 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 117:

     [T]he fox was out on love-adventures, abused his rivals, and uttered scoffing screams and howls.

   • 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 159:

     All at once the cat thrust her paw inside the ring again, but the tailor was quick as lightning and chopped the paw off. The cats set up a terrible howl, and away they rushed through the door as fast as they could.

   • 1943, H. Lorna Bingham, The Lost Tribe, Sydney: Winn and Co., page 13, column 2:

     Dan was beginning to feel very depressed when suddenly the eerie howl of a dingo rang out[.]

2. Any similar sound.

   The howl of the wind

3. A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.

howl (third-person singular simple present howls, present participle howling, simple past and past participle howled)

1. To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
   • c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: ”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     Methought a legion of foul fiends / Environ'd me about, and howled in my ears.

   • 1627, Michaell Drayton [i.e., Michael Drayton], “The Moone-calfe”, in The Battaile of Agincourt. , London: A M for VVilliam Lee, , published 1631, →OCLC, page 223:

     VVhen ominus ſignes to ſhew themſelues began, / That novv at hand this monſtrous birth fore-ran: / About at noone flew the affrighted Ovvle, / And dogs in corners ſet them dovvne to hovvle: […]

2. To utter a sound expressive of pain or distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Isaiah 13:6:

     Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand.

3. To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.

   They howled with laughter at the prank.

   • 1809, Walter Scott, “.] The Poacher”, in The Poetical Works of Walter Scott, Esq. , volume XI, Edinburgh: [James Ballantyne and Company] for Arch Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown; and John Murray, published 1820, →OCLC, page 180:

     Wild howl'd the wind the forest glades along, / And oft the owl renew'd her dismal song; […]

4. To utter with outcry.

   to howl derision

From Proto-Celtic *sāwol (compare Welsh haul, Breton heol; compare also Irish súil (“eye”)), from Proto-Indo-European *sóh₂wl̥.

howl m (plural howlyow)

1. sun