Search the Dictionary

tree frog, which in early spring, while breeding in swamps and ditches, sings with high, shrill, but musical, notes.

ont wings. During the summer and autumn, in the evening, the males make a peculiar, loud, shrill sound, resembling the combination Katy-did, whence the name.

h American hawk (Herpetotheres cachinnans); -- so called from its notes, which resemble a shrill laughing. -- Laughing gas (Chem.), hyponitrous oxide, or protoxide of nitrogen; -- so called from the exhilaration and laughing which it sometimes produces when inhaled. It is much used as an anæsthetic agent. -- Laughing…

An instrument of martial music; a kind of trumpet of a somewhat curved form and shrill note.

Acuteness or shrillness of voice.

A small, shrill flute, the pitch of which is an octave higher than the ordinary flute; an octave flute.

To emit or have a shrill sound like that of a pipe; to whistle. "Oft in the piping shrouds." Wordsworth.

Emitting a high, shrill sound.

The oyster catcher; -- so called from its shrill cries.

To utter suddenly a sharp, shrill sound; to screech; to creak, as a door or wheel.

To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a sudden, sharp outcry, or shrill, loud cry, as in fright or extreme pain; to shriek; to screech. I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Shak. And scream thyself as none e'er screamed before. Pope.

Having the nature of a scream; like a scream; shrill; sharp. The fearful matrons raise a screaming cry. Dryden.

To utter a harsh, shrill cry; to make a sharp outcry, as in terror or acute pain; to scream; to shriek. "The screech owl, screeching loud." Shak.

Like a screech; shrill and harsh.

A breach or rent; a breaking forth into a loud, shrill sound; as, martial screeds.

ll, pungent, acid, sour, as ammonia has a sharp taste and odor; to the hearing, piercing, shrill, as a sharp sound or voice; to the eye, instantaneously brilliant, dazzling, as a sharp flash.

To render more shrill or piercing. Inclosures not only preserve sound, but increase and sharpen it. Bacon.

er the clarinet or the hautboy in form. [Written also shalm, shaum.] Otway. Even from the shrillest shaum unto the cornamute. Drayton.

Shrill. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

To utter a loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry, as do some birds and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish. It was the owl that shrieked. Shak. At this she shrieked aloud; the mournful train Echoed her grief. Dryden.