any similar mournful sound: the wail of an old tune.
Origin: 1300–50;Middle Englishweile (v. and noun), perhaps derivative of Old Englishweilā(wei) well-away; compare Old Englishwǣlan to torment, Old Norsewǣla to wail
early 14c., from O.N. væla "to lament," from væ "woe" (see woe). Of jazz musicians, "to play very well," attested from 1955, Amer.Eng. slang (wailing "excellent" is attested from 1954). The noun is recorded from c.1400.
in. to be great. (See also wailing.) : Things really started to wail about midnight when the band really got going.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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