Etymology dictionary. 2014.
Shrill — Shrill, a. [Compar. {Shriller}; superl. {Shrillest}.] [OE. shril, schril; akin to LG. schrell, G. schrill. See {Shrill},v. i.] Acute; sharp; piercing; having or emitting a sharp, piercing tone or sound; said of a sound, or of that which produces… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Shrill — Shrill, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Shrilled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Shrilling}.] [OE. schrillen, akin to G. schrillen; cf. AS. scralletan to resound loudly, Icel. skr[ o]lta to jolt, Sw. skr[ a]lla to shrill, Norw. skryla, skr?la. Cf. {Skirl}.] To utter an… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Shrill — Shrill, v. t. To utter or express in a shrill tone; to cause to make a shrill sound. [1913 Webster] How poor Andromache shrills her dolors forth. Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
shrill — [shril] adj. [ME shrille, akin to LowG schrell, Ger schrill: echoic, prob. akin to SHRIEK] 1. having or producing a high, thin, piercing tone; high pitched 2. characterized or accompanied by shrill sounds 3. unrestrained and irritatingly… … English World dictionary
Shrill — Shrill, n. A shrill sound. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
shrill — shrill·ness; shrill; … English syllables
shrill — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of a voice or sound) high pitched and piercing. 2) derogatory (of a complaint or demand) loud and forceful. ► VERB ▪ make a shrill noise. DERIVATIVES shrillness noun shrilly adverb. ORIGIN … English terms dictionary
shrill — [adj] high pitched, harsh in sound acute, argute, blaring, blatant, cacophonous, clanging, clangorous, deafening, discordant, ear piercing, earsplitting, high, metallic, noisy, penetrating, piercing, piping, raucous, screeching, sharp, strident,… … New thesaurus
shrill — I UK [ʃrɪl] / US adjective Word forms shrill : adjective shrill comparative shriller superlative shrillest 1) a shrill noise or voice is very loud, high, and unpleasant a shrill cry/whistle 2) shrill words are repeated often and in a very firm… … English dictionary
shrill — I. verb Etymology: Middle English; probably akin to Old English scrallettan to resound loudly more at skirl Date: 13th century transitive verb scream intransitive verb to utter or emit an acute piercing sound II. adjective Date: 14th century … New Collegiate Dictionary
