squeal
n.n. a high-pitched, loud sound that people or animals make when they are excited, scared, or in pain. It is often used to describe a sound that is very sharp and short.
n. a high-pitched, shrill sound produced by a person or animal, typically in response to pain, fear, or excitement. Often used to describe a sudden, sharp noise that is piercing in quality.
The child let out a loud squeal when she saw the puppy.
The brakes made a sharp squeal as the car came to a sudden stop on the wet road.
The old wooden floorboards emitted a high-pitched squeal whenever the heavy furniture was moved across the room, signaling the end of the quiet afternoon.
Inherited from Middle English squelen, probably from Old Norse skvala (“to squeal, bawl”), from Proto-Germanic skwel- (“to chatter, babble, scream”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European skel-, from *kelh₁- (“to ring, resound, cry”). Compare Old Norse skval (“a squeal”, noun), Swedish skvallra (“to babble, chatter, tell on”).