English Explanatory Dictionary

howl

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The protracted, mournful cry of a dog, wolf or other canid; also of other animals.
  2. Any similar sound.
  3. A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.
verb
  1. To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
  2. To utter a sound expressive of pain or distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.
  3. To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.
  4. To utter with outcry.

Pronunciation

/ˈhaʊ̯l/ en-us-howl.ogg /ˈhæʊ̯l/ /ˈhaːl/

Word forms

howl howls howling howled

Etymology

From Middle English howlen, houlen, from Old English *hūlian, from Proto-West Germanic *hūilōn, from Proto-Germanic *hūwilōną, *hiuwilōną (“to howl”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *kū-, *kew- (“to howl, scream”). Likely of imitative origin. Cognate with Saterland Frisian huulje (“to howl”), Dutch huilen (“to cry”), 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”).

Derived words

howl-round Irish howl behowl go howl at the moon howlable howlarious howl at the moon howlback howl down howler howling jackass howl on howl out howlround outhowl who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl
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