From Middle English baulen, from Old Norse baula (“to bellow”) and/or Medieval Latin baulō (“to bark”), both from Proto-Germanic *bau- (“to roar”), conflated with Proto-Germanic *bellaną, *ballijaną, *buljaną (“to shout, low, roar”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to sound, roar”). Cognate with Faroese belja (“to low”), Icelandic baula (“to moo, low”), Swedish böla (“to bellow, low”). More at bell.
Meanings
A loud, intense shouting or wailing.
[…] that clear soprano, in nursery, rings out a shower of innocent idiotisms over the half-stripped baby, and suspends the bawl upon its lips. 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:
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bawls
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Translations (8)
ca baladreig (a loud, intense shouting or wailing) · mi pararētanga (a loud, intense shouting or wailing) · cs křik (a loud, intense shouting or wailing) · fi karjunta (a loud, intense shouting or wailing) · cs řev (a loud, intense shouting or wailing) · es grito (a loud, intense shouting or wailing) · es alarido (a loud, intense shouting or wailing) · de Grölen (a loud, intense shouting or wailing)
From Middle English baulen, from Old Norse baula (“to bellow”) and/or Medieval Latin baulō (“to bark”), both from Proto-Germanic *bau- (“to roar”), conflated with Proto-Germanic *bellaną, *ballijaną, *buljaną (“to shout, low, roar”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to sound, roar”). Cognate with Faroese belja (“to low”), Icelandic baula (“to moo, low”), Swedish böla (“to bellow, low”). More at bell.
Meanings
(transitive) To shout or utter in a loud and intense manner.
"I'm lord of this manor!" he bawled. "I'm Patroon Varick, and I'll do as I please!" 1902, Robert W. Chambers, The Maid-at-Arms:
He jumped upon the saddle with another yell as he pushed the machine before him, and the next instant was whirling down the thoroughfare with the rapidity of an express train, bawling for people to "Stand clear!" 1900, T. Jenkins Hains, Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate":
commanders bawling
Spade took two long steps and caught Effie Perine by the shoulders. "She didn't get there?" he bawled into her frightened face 1930, Dashiell Hammet, The Maltese Falcon, New York, N.Y.; London: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, →OCLC, page 140:
(intransitive) To wail; to give out a blaring cry.
Why did you bawl out just as I was aiming? Who can aim with a fellow bawling in his ear? I've lost the birds through it. 1859, George Meredith, chapter 5, in The Ordeal of Richard Feverel. A History of Father and Son. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, page 80:
children bawling
cattle bawling
Sow ran and squall'd,
While Jack he bawl'd,
And Jill join'd in the choir,
Dog Ball being near,
Bit sow by the ear,
And threw Jack into the mire. 1810, Jack and Jill, and old Dame Gill, York: J. Kendrew, page 12:
sv gasta (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · de grölen (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · es plañir (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · mi pararē (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · fi ulvoa (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · ru реве́ть (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · mi auē (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · de brüllen (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · cs křičet (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · ga scread (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · es gritonear (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · ota چاغرمق (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · tr ağlamak (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · fi karjua (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · uk кричати (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · tr bağırmak (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · ru вопи́ть (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · sh vikati (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · de brüllen (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · ru ора́ть (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · es llantear (disused) (to weep profusely) · nl schreeuwen (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · mi tīwaha (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · sv vråla (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · sv ryta (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · de heulen (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · es plañir (to weep profusely) · cs řvát (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · fr hurler (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · it urlare (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · uk галасувати (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · de schreien (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · fi pillittää (to weep profusely) · ota چاغرمق (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · mi whakapakari (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · fr hurler (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · mi hāparangi (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · la obvāgiō (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · es gritar (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · ru крича́ть (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · es llantear (disused) (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · sv gorma (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · uk горлати (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · ga scread (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · it gridare (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · ota اوكورمك (to wail; to give out a blaring cry) · uk ревіти (to weep profusely) · uk волати (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · fi huutaa (to shout or utter in a loud and intense manner) · mi whakapakari (to wail; to give out a blaring cry)