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bawl

 - 3 dictionary results

bawl

[bawl]
–verb (used without object)
1. to cry or wail lustily.
–verb (used with object)
2. to utter or proclaim by outcry; shout out: to bawl one's dissatisfaction; bawling his senseless ditties to the audience.
3. to offer for sale by shouting, as a hawker: a peddler bawling his wares.
–noun
4. a loud shout; outcry.
5. a period or spell of loud crying or weeping.
6. Chiefly Midland and Western U.S. the noise made by a calf.
7. bawl out, Informal. to scold vociferously; reprimand or scold vigorously: Your father will bawl you out when he sees this mess.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME < ML baulāre to bark < Gmc; cf. ON baula to low, baula cow, perh. a conflation of belja (see bell 2 ) with an old root *bhu-


bawler, noun


1. howl, yowl, squall, roar, bellow.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bawl
bawl   (bôl)   
v.   bawled, bawl·ing, bawls

v.   intr.
  1. To cry or sob loudly; wail.

  2. To cry out loudly and vehemently; shout.

v.   tr.
To utter in a loud, vehement voice. See Synonyms at shout.
n.  A loud, bellowing cry; a wail.
Phrasal Verb(s):
bawl out Informal To reprimand loudly or harshly.

[Middle English bawlen, to bark, from Medieval Latin baulāre, to bark (probably of Scandinavian origin) or from Old Norse baula, to low (of imitative origin).]
bawl'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

bawl 
c.1440, from O.N. baula "to low like a cow," and/or M.L. baulare "to bark like a dog," both echoic. To bawl (someone) out "reprimand loudly" is 1908, Amer.Eng.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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