The Collaborative International Dictionary
Shrill \Shrill\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Shrilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrilling.] [OE. schrillen, akin to G. schrillen; cf. AS. scralletan to resound loudly, Icel. skr["o]lta to jolt, Sw. skr["a]lla to shrill, Norw. skryla, skr?l
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Cf. Skirl.] To utter an acute, piercing sound; to sound with a sharp, shrill tone; to become shrill.
Break we our pipes, that shrilledloud as lark.
--Spenser.No sounds were heard but of the shrilling cock.
--Goldsmith.His voice shrilled with passion.
--L. Wallace.
Wiktionary
n. A sound that shrills. vb. (present participle of shrill English)
WordNet
adj. continuous and piercing; "clashing swords and shrilling trumpets" [syn: shrilling(a)]
n. a continuing shrill noise; "the clash of swords and the shrilling of trumpets"--P. J. Searles
Usage examples of "shrilling".
A section of Clart riders, still shrilling, broke from the melee in front of the gates and rode at the cavalry.
The shrilling voices of the whips rose from the covert-depths, and just a whimper now and then from the hounds, swiftly wheeling their noses among the fern and briers.
The shrilling of the telephone dimly penetrated the thunder and rush of the shower.
The shrilling of pipes and the deep-throated booming of drums fell on her ears like a killing cloud on a field of young flowers.
Still shrilling his challenge, Mahvros came to a rearing halt, pivoted, and returned to savage the downed horse and rider, while Bili axed the other man out of the saddle with a single, businesslike stroke.
And although the attack was taking place at least a mile off, it seemed to Ashalind that she heard the blood-baying of hounds, the snap of jaws, the twang of bowstrings, the whirr and smack of arrows and the clash of blades, the sizzle of sparks as swords smote armor, the yelling of men, the shrilling of horses, the hideous clangor of riven metal, the long, desperate pumping of mortal blood.
The evening frogs had begun to peep and croak, mingling with more mysterious night sounds—cries, hoots, drummings, shrillings.
There were deep wailings of men and the shrillings of eunuchs and women, as if terror passed from tongue to tongue, invading the halls and apartments.