Where does “screech” come from?
Screech comes from Old English scritch, which derives from Old Norse skríkja, ultimately tracing to Proto-Germanic skrīkijaną meaning to make a shrill sound.
screech (English): A high-pitched strident or piercing sound, such...
Definitions
- A high-pitched strident or piercing sound, such...
Ancestry of “screech”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | skrech | — |
| 2 | English | scritch | a screech; A thrush; A light scratching sound,... |
| 3 | Middle English | skriken | — |
| 4 | Old Norse | skríkja | to shriek; to scream |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | skrīkijaną | to cry, scream, shriek |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | skrīhaną | to shout, scream; to cry out, proclaim |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kerey- | to scream, screech; to scream, caw |