squawk

[skwawk] /skwɔk/
verb (used without object)
1.
to utter a loud, harsh cry, as a duck or other fowl when frightened.
2.
Informal. to complain loudly and vehemently.
verb (used with object)
3.
to utter or give forth with a squawk.
noun
4.
a loud, harsh cry or sound.
5.
Informal. a loud, vehement complaint.
6.
the black-crowned night heron.
See under night heron.
Origin
1815-25; blend of squall2 and hawk3
Related forms
squawker, noun
Synonyms
2. grumble, gripe, complain, yelp.
Examples from the web for squawk
  • The last one is waist-high, smaller than the others, and resembles a stunted drive-through squawk box.
  • Local bloggers may squawk about content wanting to be free.
  • Let the little nippers squawk all they want to about bias.
  • They're going to be perfect husbands because they'll never make a squawk.
  • The dark-oak squawk of his horn was a constant, through fits and starts and unfurled elaborations.
  • Even though you've been waiting for it, the first squawk is still a shocker.
  • And yet airplane electronics, or avionics to use the technical term, do not routinely squawk or fail.
  • But if you're going to squawk about glowing recruiting rankings, then you better make those recruiting rankings pay off.
  • Let the trade unions and the political sponsors of those who have been laid off squawk all they want.
British Dictionary definitions for squawk

squawk

/skwɔːk/
noun
1.
a loud raucous cry; screech
2.
(informal) a loud complaint or protest
verb
3.
to utter a squawk or with a squawk
4.
(intransitive) (informal) to complain loudly
Derived Forms
squawker, noun
Word Origin
C19: of imitative origin
Word Origin and History for squawk
v.

1821, probably of imitative origin (cf. dialectal Italian squacco "small crested heron"). The noun is attested from 1850. Squawk-box "loud-speaker" is from 1945.

Slang definitions & phrases for squawk

squawk

noun

: Okay, what's your squawk this morning? (1909+)

verb
  1. To complain; beef, bitch: Will you stop squawking about the food, please? (1875+)
  2. To inform; squeal: Joe squawked (1872+ Underworld)

[echoic of an unpleasant sound, esp the grating screech of a bird]