▪ I. ˈsquelching, vbl. n.
[f. squelch v.]
The action of the verb, in various senses.
| 1709 Brit. Apollo No. 38. 3/2 Her Coughing and Squelching, Her F..ting and Belch[in]g, Ye Gods, what a Consort is here! 189. Kipling Soldiers Three, Only a Subaltern, There was an undecided squelching of heavy boots. |
▪ II. ˈsquelching, ppl. a.
[f. as prec.]
1. dial. Unusually big; burly.
| 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss. s.v., A great squelching man. a 1904 in Eng. Dial. Dict. (Warw., Hants.). |
2. That squelches under treading or pressure; emitting a squelchy sound.
| 1869 ‘Bradwood’ [W. B. Woodgate] The O.V.H. I. xii. 210 The soil was rather holding and squelching. 1894 J. Barlow Kerrigan 110 He stepped up in his squelching brogues. 1895 K. Grahame Golden Age 14, I dug glad heels into the squelching soil. |
3. Of sounds: Of the nature of a squelch; suggestive of squelching.
| 1881 Cassell's Nat. Hist. V. 177 When removed from the water they emit a peculiar ‘squelching’ noise. 1885 Pall Mall G. 5 May 4/2 Portions are dabbed on the plates with a slapping, squelching sound. |
4. Crushing; squashing.
| 1885 New Bk. Sports 123 A straight downward blow, is delivered with a peculiarly ‘squelching’ effect. |