caterwauling

English

Etymology

From caterwaul +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkætəwɔːlɪŋ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkætɚˌwɔlɪŋ/, /-ˌwɑ-/, [-ɾɚ-]
• Hyphenation: cat‧er‧waul‧ing

Noun

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

caterwauling

1. present participle and gerund of caterwaul