Screech , n. A harsh, shrill cry, as of one in acute pain
or in fright; a shriek; a scream.
Screech bird, or Screech thrush (Zoöl.),
the fieldfare; -- so called from its harsh cry
before rain. -- Screech rain. --
Screech hawk
(Zoöl.), the European goatsucker; --
so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.]
--
Screech owl.
(Zoöl.) (a) A small American owl (Scops asio), either
gray or reddish in color. (b)
The European barn owl. The
name is applied also to other
species.
Screech (skrēch), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Screeched (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Screeching.]
[Also formerly, scritch,
OE. skriken, skrichen, schriken, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel.
skrækja to shriek, to screech, skrīkja to
titter, Sw. skrika to shriek, Dan. skrige; also Gael. sgreach,
sgreuch, W. ysgrechio, Skr. kharj
to creak. Cf. Shriek, v.,
Scream, v.] To utter a harsh, shrill cry; to make a sharp outcry, as in
terror or acute pain; to scream; to
shriek. "The screech owl, screeching
loud." Shak.
Hear it pronounced