Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Displaying 2 result(s) from the 1913 edition:

Screech (Page: 1292)

Screech (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Screeched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Screeching.] [Also formerly, scritch, OE. skriken, skrichen, schriken, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. skr&ae;kja to shriek, to screech, skr&imac;ja to titter, Sw. skrika to shriek, Dan. skrige; also Gael. sgreach, sgreuch, W. ysgrechio, Skr. kharj to creak. Cf. Shriek, v., Scream, v.] To utter a harsh, shrill cry; to make a sharp outcry, as in terror or acute pain; to scream; to shriek. The screech owl, screeching loud." Shak.

Screech (Page: 1292)

Screech, n. A harsh, shrill cry, as of one in acute pain or in fright; a shriek; a scream. Screech bird, ∨ Screech thrush (Zoöl.), the fieldfare; -- so called from its harsh cry before rain. -- Screech rain. -- Screech hawk (Zoöl.), the European goatsucker; -- so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.] -- Screech owl. (Zoöl.) (a) A small American owl (Scops asio), either gray or reddish in color. (b) The European barn owl. The name is applied also to other species.

Displaying 1 result(s) from the 1828 edition:

SCREECH, v.i. [See Screak and Shriek.]

1. To cry out with a sharp shrill voice; to utter a sudden shrill cry, as in terror or acute pain; to scream; to shriek.

2. To utter a sharp cry, as an owl; thence called screech-owl.

SCREECH, n.

1. A sharp shrill cry uttered in acute pain, or in a sudden fright.

2. A harsh shrill cry, as of a fowl.