screel (skre)

[ A landslip, a steep slope on the side of a mountain covered with sliding stones, in West more land called screes. Cath. Ang., p. 326, note. Before I had got half way up the screes , which gave way and rattled beneath me at every step. Southey . scree2 (skrē), n. [A dial. abbr. of screen .] A riddle or coarse sieve. [Scotch and North. Eng.] screech (skrēch), v . [Early mod. E. also skreech , skriech , dial. also scritch ; schrichen , scrik en, shryken, schriken, shriken, skrækja , shriek, skrikja , titter, = Sw. skrik a = Dan. skrige , shriek: see shriek and screak, other forms of the same ult. imitative word.]' I. in trans. To cry out with a sharp, shrill voice; scream harshly or stridently; shriek. And the synfulle thare-with ay cry and skryke . Hampole , Pricke of Conscience, L. 7347. Shak ., M. N. D., v. 1. 383. The screech-owl screeching loud. = Syn. See scream, n. II. trans. To utter (a screech). And when she saw the red, red blude, A loud skriech skrieched she. Lammikin (Child's Ballads, III. 310). screech (skrēch), n. [Early mod. E. also skreech, skriech, scritch; Forthwith there was heard a great lamentation, accompanyed with groans and skreeches . Sandys , Travailes, p. 9. The birds obscene With hollow screeches fled the dire repast. Pope , tr. of Statius's Thebaid, i. 2. Any sharp, shrill noise: as, the screech of a railway-whistle. skrække , scare, E. shrill, Sc. skirl , cry aloud, G. schreien, D. schreijen, Sw. skria , cry aloud, shriek, etc. (see skire ).] 1. To cry out with shrill voice; give vent or utterance to a sharp or piercing outcry; utter shrill cries, as in fright or extreme pain, delight, etc. I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Shak., Macbeth, ii. 2. 16. Never peacock against rain Dismal screams,... Shrieks of woe. She heard with silent petulance the harsh screech of Philip's chair as he heavily dragged it on the stone floor. Mrs. Gaskell , Sylvia's Lovers, iv. 3. In ornith ., the mistle thrush, Turdus viscivo rus. [Prov. Eng.]=Syn. Shriek , etc. See scream. 3. [Prov. Eng.] screecher (skrē'cher), n. 1. One who or that which screeches; a screamer. - 2. Specifically, in ornith.: (a) The swift, Cypselus apus. Also screamer, squealer. (b) pl. The Strep i to res. screech-hawk (skrēch'hak), n. The nightjar or churr-owl, a goatsucker, Caprimulgus eu ropæus. See cut under night - jar. [Local, Eng.] screech-martin (skrēch'märtin), n. The swift, Cypselus apus. [Local, Eng.] screech-owl (skrēch'oul), n. [Also formerly or dial.scritch - owl (= Sw.skrik - uggla ); screen Battes, Owles, and Scritch - owles, birds of darkne e, were the obiects of their darkened Deuotions. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 697. A screech- owl at midnight has alarmed a family more than a band of robbers. Add is on, Spectator, No. 7. screech-thrush (skrēch'thrush), n. The mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus. Macgillivray . screechy (skrē'chi), a. [ screech , n., + -y1.] 1. Shrill and harsh, like a screech. Cock burn .-2. Given to screeching; screamy; loud mouthed: as, a screechy woman.