bleat

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“
For the first time, too, since the bad weather had set in, was to be heard the incessant bleat which is music to the ears of a New Zealand sheep-farmer.

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Definitions (13)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (6)

  1. noun The characteristic cry of a goat or sheep.
  2. noun A sound similar to this cry.
  3. noun A whining, feeble complaint.
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Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (2)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (3)

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Examples (50)

  • The guard let out one agonized bleat, then Monk banged him on the floor. —  028 - The Roar Devil
  • With a hideous bleat, the fellow flopped to the earth, temporarily incapable of more motion Reaching up and back. —  010 - The Phantom City
  • There was a bleat, and suddenly a sheep-like animal charged toward them. —  Xone of Contention
  • That is the sentiment of the shadow home secretary who says people are being forced to "bleat" to the police when they could deal with minor grievances themselves. —  US_Homepage_Featured_Stories
  • Just sit there and bleat, and perhaps the badge gang will elect to help you. —  Lean Left
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This word has been looked up 155 times.

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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English blet, from bleten, to bleat, from Old English blǣtan.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. from Middle English bleten, from Anglo-Saxon blǣtan = Dutch blaten, bleeten = Middle Low German Low German bleten = Old High German blāzan, Middle High German blāzen, German dial. blässen, blätzen, bleat; cf. German blöken, bleat, bellow (see balk, bolk), Latin balare, bleat (see balant), Greek βληχᾶσθαι, bleat, βληχή, Dor. βλαχά, a bleating: all perhaps ult. of imitative origin, like baa, q. v.
  2. from bleat, v.
 

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/blit/
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