Shrill

a. [compar. SHRILLER; superl. SHRILLEST.] [L. Ger. schrill, schrell. See infra.] Uttering an acute sound; sharp; piercing. Hear the shrill whistle. Shak. Let winds be shrill. Byron.

v. i. [imp. & p. p. SHRILLED; p. pr. & vb. n. SHRILLING.] [L. & H. Ger. schrillen, Sw. skralla.] 1. To utter an acute, piercing sound; to sound in a sharp, shrill tone. Break we our pinions, that shrilled as loud as lark. Spenser. No sound was heard but of the shrilling cock. Goldsmith. 2. To have an acute or piercing effect; to cause a shrill sound, as laughter, or the like. “With shrilling shafts of subtle wit.” Tennyson.

v. t. 1. To cause to make a shrill sound; to utter in a shrill tone. Spenser. 2. To pierce; to penetrate; to wound. About me leaped and laughed, The modish Cupid of the day, And shrilled me with his shaft. Tennyson.