wail

/ˈwāl/

Middle English weilen, waylen, perhaps modification (influenced by Middle English weilawei wellaway) of Old Norse væla, vāla to wail; akin to Old Norse vei woe

verb

  1. to express sorrow audibly : lament

  2. to make a sound suggestive of a mournful cry

  3. to express dissatisfaction plaintively : complain

noun

  1. a usually prolonged cry or sound expressing grief or pain

  2. a sound suggestive of wailing

  3. a querulous expression of grievance : complaint

the wail of an air-raid siren