yelp

UK: jɛlp | US: jɛlp

Definition

  1. n. a short, sharp cry or bark, especially from a dog

  2. vi. to utter a short, sharp cry or bark

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

"Yelp" originates from Old English gielpan ("to boast, cry out"), likely imitative of sharp, high-pitched sounds. Its meaning narrowed to describe animal cries (especially dogs) by the 14th century, retaining its onomatopoeic character. The word’s brevity and phonetic sharpness mirror the sound it represents.

Examples

  1. The puppy let out a startled yelp when it stepped on a thorn.

  2. She heard a yelp from the backyard and rushed to check on the dog.

  3. The fox gave a quick yelp before darting into the woods.

  4. He couldn’t help but yelp when the icy water touched his skin.

  5. Distant yelps echoed through the forest at night.