squawk

nounverbattested in dialogue

United Kingdom//skwɔːk//
Australia//skwoːk//
Scotland//skwɔk//
//skwɔk//
//skwɑk//

A shrill noise, especially made by a voice or bird. If made by a bird, it typically signals discomfort or anger; a yell, scream, or call.

noun

1
A shrill noise, especially made by a voice or bird. If made by a bird, it typically signals discomfort or anger; a yell, scream, or call.
2
A four-digit transponder code used by aircraft for identification or transmission of emergency signals.
3
informalA complaint or objection.
That was the last roundup for McCutcheon’s Cresswell; it never moved from that field again. Not that there was any squawk from the landlord; the two of them owned it, of course.
4
An issue or complaint related to aircraft maintenance.
We think instructors should stress the importance of writeups on all maintenance squawks after the completion of each flight. More important, something should be done by the aircraft operator to correct such squawks.
5
The American night heron.
6
informalA warning message indicating a possible error.
The function-hiding code above, for instance, goes through a different (but widely used) compiler with nary a squawk.

Etymology

First attested in 1821. Unknown, but probably of imitative origin (compare dialectal Italian squacco (“small-crested heron”) and English quack).

verb

1
To make a squawking noise; to yell, scream, or call out shrilly.
The hens woke up squawking with terror because they had all dreamed simultaneously of hearing a gun go off in the distance.
2
slangTo speak out; to protest.
3
slangTo report an infraction; to rat on or tattle; to disclose a secret.
"I'll slit your throat if you squawk on us," Krantz threatened.
4
informalTo produce a warning message, indicating a possible error.
That way, if you type = instead of ==, the compiler will squawk because you can't assign something to a constant.
You want the compiler to squawk if you try to instantiate for a type that doesn't implement IPrioritizable.
5
To set or transmit a four-digit transponder code. (Normally followed by the specific code in question.)
After discovering that the hydraulic system is faulty, the pilots squawked 7700 and declared mayday.
6
datedTo back out in a mean way.

Forms

plural: squawks
past tense: squawked
past participle: squawked
present participle: squawking
third person singular: squawks

Squash · A surname squashed · squeezed until flattened, or until a pulp squat · Relatively short or low, and thick or broad.

squawk · A shrill noise, especially made by a voice or bird. If made by a bird, it typically signals discomfort or anger; a yell, scream, or call.

squawking · Squawk, the sound of a squawk.squeak · A short, high-pitched sound, as of two objects rubbing…Squeak · The British War Medal.

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