Forms: see prec., also 6–7 catterwaling, -wralling, (7 cat-wralling, catterwouling). [f. as prec. + -ING1.]
1. The cry of cats at rutting time; their rutting or heat.
1530. Palsgr., 175. Larre des chatz, the caterwawyng of cattes. Ibid., 235/2. Katerwayng.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 105. In the time of their lust (commonly called cat-wralling) they are wilde and fierce.
1820. Scott, Ivanhoe, xvii. His serenade … as little regarded as the caterwauling of a cat in the gutter.
1834. Mudie, Brit. Birds (1841), I. 150. Thus, if owls were established at every farm, the caterwauling of cats … would be less necessary.
b. To go a caterwauling: to go ‘after kind.’
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 57. My cat gothe a catterwawyng.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 156 b. They goe a catterwalling about Februarie.
1582. Hester, Secr. Phiorav., III. lxxxviii. 113. The Catte … is neuer in loue or goeth a catterwallyng, but in the coldest weather.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Countr. Farm, 194. They are fitter to make meat for Cats that goe a catterwauling.
1737. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Cataria, When they go a Catter-wauling.
2. Going after the opposite sex; lecherous motions or pursuits.
1530. Palsgr., 829. A katerwavyng, agars.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 342/1. Priestes, freres, monkes and nunnes … may runne out a caterwawing.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (1878), 275. To see old doting … priests … run a catterwawling.
1611. Cotgr., Aller à gars, (a wench) to goe a caterwawling. [See also garouage, iar, etc.]
1672. Wycherley, Love in Wood, II. i. This new fashioned catterwouling, this midnight coursing in the Park.
1708. Motteux, Rabelais, V. xxix. (1737), 133. March as the best Month for Catterwawling.
3. transf. Any hideous, discordant howling noise.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., IV. ii. 37. Why what a catterwalling dost thou keepe.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., IV. ii. Why, you Munkies you, what a Catter-waling do you keep?
1612. Dekker, If not Good, Plays, 1873, III. 289. Welsh harpes, Irish bag-pipes, Jewes trompes, and french kitts … their dambd catter-wralling, frighted me away.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 361, ¶ 1. A kind of catter-wawling … whatever the musicians themselves might think of it.
1853. Kingsley, Hypatia, II. iii. 58. There they are at it now, with their catterwauling, squealing all together like a set of starlings on a foggy morning!
4. fig. Whining.
1850. Clough, Dipsychus, II. iv. 152. These pitiful rebellions of the flesh, These caterwaulings of the effeminate heart.
1870. Huxley, Lay Serm., iv. 76. Their sensual caterwauling may be almost mistaken for the music of the spheres.
