warble

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“
From those tall hemlocks proceeds a very fine insect-like warble, and occasionally I see a spray _teeter_, or catch the flit of a wing.

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Definitions (26)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (7)

  1. transitive verb To sing (a note or song, for example) with trills, runs, or other melodic embellishments.
  2. intransitive verb To sing with trills, runs, or quavers.
  3. intransitive verb To be sounded in a trilling or quavering manner.
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Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (10)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (6)

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Examples (50)

  • Lochey favors us with a song, which is known as the warble Thou, thou reignest in this bosom, There, there hast thou thy throne; Thou, thou knowest that I love thee; Am I not fondly thine own? —  The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Citizen-soldier, by John Beatty.
  • Thirty-four across ... Patient. Miller whistled another bird warble, and José became alert, peering south into the gulch's closing darkness. —  AHMM,April2008
  • Don't understand where the Ladyhawke cover come from as she is working with Ladytron not Ladyhawke and Goldfrapp and Xtina could be an interesting collaboration as long as she sings the song with the sexuality of Alison and not warble, as much as I love Xtina and "Candyman" I felt the majourity of the song was sung by backing singers with Xtina adding adlibs.
  • Don't understand where the Ladyhawke cover come from as she is working with Ladytron not Ladyhawke and Goldfrapp and Xtina could be an interesting collaboration as long as she sings the song with the sexuality of Alison and not warble, as much as I love Xtina and "Candyman" I felt the majority of the song was sung by backing singers with Xtina adding ad-libs.
  • • Recent meetings to explain the life history and demonstrate the treatment for the warble or heel fly control, arranged by R. C. Banbury, Dufferin's Agricultural Representative, were well attended. —  Orangeville
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This word has been looked up 142 times.

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Etymologies (6)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. Middle English werbelen, from Old North French werbler, of Germanic origin.
  2. Probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to obsolete Swedish varbulde.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (4)

  1. from Middle English werblen, from Old French werbler, quaver with the voice, speak in a high tone, from Middle High German *werbelen, German wirbeln, warble, literally turn, whirl, freq. of Middle High German werben (werven) = Old High German werban (werfan), turn, twist, move, be busy about, perform, = Old Saxon hwerbhan, move hither and thither, = Anglo-Saxon hweorfan, turn, move: see wherve, wharf, and cf. whirl, wharl, whorl.
  2. from Middle English werble, from Old French werble, a warble, warbling; from the verb.
  3. Scots also warple; from Middle English *werblen, turn, whirl (?), ult. same as warble, q. v.
  4. Also wormil, wormul, warnle, wornil, wornal, also assimilated wabble, and diminutive warblet; cf. equivalent warbeetle, and the adjective worbitten, said of timber pierced by the larvæ of insects; orig. form uncertain, no early instances appearing; perhaps connected with Middle English war, pus, humor. Some of the forms indicate simulation of worm.
 

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/ˈwɔrbl/
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