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caterwauling

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Etymology

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From caterwaul +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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caterwauling (plural caterwaulings)

  1. gerund of caterwaul: a sound that caterwauls.
    • 1762 December 8 (first performance), [Isaac Bickerstaffe], Love in a Village; a Comic Opera. [], 4th edition, London: [] W. Griffin; for J[ohn] Newbery, and W. Nicoll, []; G[eorge] Kearsley, []; T[homas] Davies, []; and J. Walter, [], published 1763, →OCLC, Act II, scene ii, page 26:
      VVhy, here is nothing in the vvorld in this houſe but catter-vvavvling from morning till night, nothing but catter-vvavvling. Hoity toity! vvho have vve here?
    • 1918, Eleanor H. Porter, Oh, Money! Money!:
      Now, I like a good tune what is a tune; but them caterwaulings and dirges that that chap Gray plays on that fiddle of his—gorry, Mr. Smith, I'd rather hear the old barn door at home squeak any day.

Verb

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caterwauling

  1. present participle and gerund of caterwaul