Search the Dictionary

To make a small, shrill sound; as, the air sings in passing through a crevice. O'er his head the flying spear Sang innocent, and spent its force in air. Pope.

To utter in a shrill tone; to scream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

A shrill cry or sound; a crying shrilly; a skirl. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Sir W. Scott. When the skirling of the pipes cleft the air his cold eyes softened. Mrs. J. H. Ewing.

a drum; the sound of the human voice; a horrid sound; a charming sound; a sharp, high, or shrill sound. The warlike sound Of trumpets loud and clarions. Milton.

cry. There oft are heard the notes of infant woe, -The short, thick sob, loud scream, and shriller squall. Pope.

To utter a shrill, abrupt scream; to squeak harshly. Squawking thrush (Zoöl.), the missel turush; -- so called from its note when alarmed. [Prov. Eng.]

To utter a sharp, shrill cry, usually of short duration; to cry with an acute tone, as an animal; or, to make a sharp, disagreeable noise, as a pipe or quill, a wagon wheel, a door; to creak. Who can endure to hear one of the rough old Romans squeaking through the mouth of an eunuch Addison. Zoilus calls the companions…

To cry with a sharp, shrill, prolonged sound, as certain animals do, indicating want, displeasure, or pain.

Characterized by harshness; grating; shrill. "A strident voice." Thackeray.

A harsh, shrill, or creaking noise. Dryden.

To make a shrill, creaking noise; specifically (Zoöl.),

The act of making shrill sounds or musical notes by rubbing together certain hard parts, as is done by the males of many insects, especially by Orthoptera, such as crickets, grasshoppers, and locusts.

Making a shrill, creaking sound. Sir T. Browne. The Sarmatian boor driving his stridulous cart. Longfellow. Stridulous laryngitis (Med.), a form of croup, or laryngitis, in children, associated with dyspnoea, occurring usually at night, and marked by crowing or stridulous breathing.

To feel a kind of thrilling sensation, as in hearing a shrill sound. At which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 1 Sam. iii. 11.

To make a sharp, shrill noise; to tinkle. Wyclif (1 Cor. xiii. 1).

To whistle with a shrill pipe, like a plover. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

To make a shrill sound with a wind or steam instrument, somewhat like that made with the lips; to blow a sharp, shrill tone.

In a whistling manner; shrilly.

A loud, shrill, prolonged sound or sonorous inspiration, as in whooping cough.

heir horns." Pennant. Ye vigorous swains, while youth ferments your blood, . . . Wind the shrill horn. Pope. That blast was winded by the king. Sir W. Scott.