squawk
Meaning
(of a bird) to make a loud, harsh cry
to complain or protest loudly and harshly
a loud, harsh cry, especially one made by a bird
Usage
the parrot let out a loud squawk when the cat entered the room.
the investors began to squawk about the sudden drop in share prices.
we could hear the squawk of seagulls from the harbor.
Etymology
the word 'squawk' first appeared in english in the early 19th century. it is an onomatopoeic formation, created to imitate the harsh, strident cry of a bird, particularly a parrot or other large bird. this process of sound imitation is a common source of words for animal noises and other sharp sounds. from its original use describing a bird's cry, the meaning extended figuratively to describe a loud, harsh complaint or protest made by a person, capturing the same grating quality of the sound.
Analysis
the word is considered a simplex, likely formed through onomatopoeia, imitating the sound it describes. it is not productively formed from separate, identifiable morphemes in modern english.