▪ I. skreigh, n.1 Sc.
(skrix)
Forms: 6 skrech, 8 skriech, 9 skreich; 7– skreigh, 9 skriegh, skreegh, screigh, etc.
[Alteration of screik screak n., in order to imitate a more prolonged or harsher sound.]
A shriek or screech; a loud shrill cry or scream. Also fig.
| 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 39 The herrons gaif ane vyild skrech as the kyl hed bene in fyir. c 1614 Sir W. Mure Dido & æneas iii. 395 The skreigh is rais'd, with many rewfull cries. 1715 Ramsay Christ's Kirk Gr. ii. vi, He gripped Kate, And gar'd her gi'e a skreigh. 1790 Burns Tam o' Shanter 200 The witches follow Wi' mony an eldritch skriech and hollo. 1816 Scott Antiq. vii, ‘The skriegh of a Tammie Norie,’ answered Ochiltree, ‘I ken the skirl weel’. 1818 ― Rob Roy xxiii, The skreigh of duty, which no man should hear and be inobedient. |
▪ II. skreigh, n.2 Sc.
(skrix)
Also skrieh, skregh, screigh, etc.
[Alteration (after prec.) of skreek, skriek, etc. (see screak n. 3), for earlier creek n.2]
The break of day.
| 1802 Leyden Lord Soulis viii, The page he look'd at the skrieh of day. 1816 Scott Bl. Dwarf x, I wad..be on and awa' to Mucklestane wi' the first skreigh o' morning. 1879 Yachtsman's Holidays 53 The watchful Lachlan called all hands by ‘skreigh o' day’. |
▪ III. skreigh, v. Sc.
(skrix)
Also 8 skriegh, 9 skreegh, skriech, skreich; 8 scriegh, 8–9 screigh, 9 scriech, etc.
[Alteration of screik screak v.: cf. skreigh n.1]
1. intr. To screech or shriek; to utter a loud shrill cry; to make a screeching noise.
| 1715 Ramsay Christ's Kirk Gr. ii. vii, And fouk wad threep, that she did green For what wad gar her skirle And skreigh some day. 1786 Burns To Auld Mare viii, How thou wad prance, an' snore, an' scriegh. 1816 Scott Antiq. xi, I would hae skreigh'd out at once, and raised the house. 1894 W. D. Latto Tam. Bodkin ii, The tempest..whistlin' and skreeghin' amang the..trees. |
2. trans. To utter in a screeching tone.
| 1786 Burns Earnest Cry ii, Scriechan out prosaic verse, An' like to brust! c 1800 Macneill Poems (1844) 60 Rebellion loud..Skreighed wild her cry. |
Hence ˈskreighing vbl. n.
| 1816 Scott Antiq. xi, I doubted Mary wad waken you wi' her skreighing. |