Bawl

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: bɔːɫ
• US IPA: /bÉ”l/
• cot-caught IPA: /bÉ‘l/
• Rhymes: -ɔːl
• Homophones: ball

Origin

From Middle English bawlen, from Old Norse baula ("to low") and/or Medieval Latin baulō ("bark", verb.), both from Proto-Germanic *bau- ("to roar"), from Proto-Indo-European *bau- ("to bark"), conflated with Proto-Germanic *bellaną, *ballijaną, *buljaną ("to shout, low, roar"), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- ("to sound, roar"). Cognate with Icelandic baula ("to moo, low"), Swedish böla ("to bellow, low"). More at bell.

Full definition of bawl

Verb

1. (intransitive) To shout or utter in a loud and intense manner.
2. (intransitive) To wail; to give out a blaring cry.

Derived terms

• bawler

Anagrams

• LBWA