[f. SQUEAL v.]
1. In bird-names: (see quots.).
1854. Warter, Last of Old Squires, vii. 66. In the Summer, Nothing broke the Silence that reigned around, save the Voice of the Squealers—the Country-name for Swifts—as they wheeled at Will in lessening or widening Circles.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., 223. The Swift…. This bird’s loud piercing cry has obtained for it the name of squealer.
1888. G. Trumbull, Names Birds, 91. Harlequin Duck,… known also as Squealer at Machias Port, Me. Ibid., 196. Golden Plover…. Mr. Browne records Squealer in his list of gunners’ names at Plymouth Bay.
2. One who or that which squeals. Also transf.
1865. Slang Dict., 244. Squealer,… an illegitimate baby.
1897. Daily News, 25 May, 2/4. In one village a venerable squealer [a pig] was driven past a whole line of soldiers by a dog.
b. slang. An informer.
1855. in Slang Dict., 244.
1901. Daily Chron., 17 Sept., 7/2. It will not reap many ‘squealers,’ because the men who might tell things to cause damage will not dare.
c. A complainer.
1889. Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. In nine cases out of ten, the editor gives the squealer more privileges in the way of reply than he is entitled to by equity.
