Main Entry:

¹bleat

Pronunciation:

\ˈblēt, Northern also ˈblat, Southern usually ˈblāt\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English bleten, from Old English blǣtan; akin to Latin flēre to weep, Old English bellan to roar — more at bellow

Date:

before 12th century

intransitive verb1 a: to make the natural cry of a sheep or goat ; also : to utter a similar sound b: whimper2 a: to talk complainingly or with a whine b: blathertransitive verb: to utter in a bleating manner

— bleat·er noun