caterwaul means A yowling. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 85 out of 100.
caterwaul is pronounced /ˈkæt.ə.wɔːl/.
Why “caterwaul” is a great word
To make a harsh, discordant wail like that of a cat, or to engage in a noisy quarrel. It derives from the Middle English caterwrawen, a compound of cater (“cat”) and wrawlen (“to cry like a cat”), first attested in the late 14th century. Unlike “mewl” (which suggests a frail, plaintive whimper) or “squabble” (which denotes a petty argument), caterwaul carries the full, unadulterated sonic violence of the feline nocturnal. It is the raw, scraping chorus from a midnight alley; the dissonant, escalating pitch of a domestic spat; the guttural protest of rusty hinges on a forgotten gate—the fundamental music of discord that underpins so much of existence.
Etymology
From Middle English caterwrawen, from cater (“cat”) + wrawen, wrawlen (“cry like a cat”), equivalent to cat + waul. Compare Low German katerwaulen (“to cry like a cat”) and Middle Dutch cater (“tomcat”) (Dutch kater).
noun
- A yowling.
- A noisy quarrel.
verb
- To cry as cats in heat; to make a harsh, offensive noise.
- To have a noisy argument, like cats.