Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Screech?

\Screech\ (skr[=e]ch), 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]kja 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\, n. A harsh, shrill cry, as of one in acute pain or in fright; a shriek; a scream. {Screech bird}, or {Screech thrush} (Zo["o]l.), the fieldfare; -- so called from its harsh cry before rain. {Screech rain}. {Screech hawk} (Zo["o]l.), the European goatsucker; -- so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.] {Screech owl}. (Zo["o]l.) (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.