caterwaul Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the yowling sound made by a cat in heat
  2. verb utter shrieks, as of cats
    yowl.

WordNet

Cat"er*waul intransitive verb
Etymology
Cat + waul, wawl, to cry as a cat.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Caterwauled ; present participle & verbal noun Caterwauling
Definitions
  1. To cry as cats in rutting time; to make a harsh, offensive noise. Coleridge.
Cat"er*waul noun
Definitions
  1. A caterwauling.

Webster 1913