warble

¹war·ble

noun \ˈwȯr-bəl\

Definition of WARBLE

1

: a melodious succession of low pleasing sounds

2

: a musical trill

3

: the action of warbling

Origin of WARBLE

Middle English werble tune, from Old French (Picard dialect), from werbler to sing expressively, trill, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch wervelen to turn, Old High German wirbil whirlwind — more at whirl

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with WARBLE

corbeil, corbel

²warble

verb

war·bledwar·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of WARBLE

intransitive verb

1

: to sing in a trilling manner or with many turns and variations

2

: to become sounded with trills, quavers, and rapid modulations in pitch

3

: sing

transitive verb

: to render with turns, runs, or rapid modulations : trill

Examples of WARBLE

1. Birds were warbling in the trees.
2. He warbled his way through the song.

First Known Use of WARBLE

14th century

Related to WARBLE

Synonyms

quaver, trill

Related Words

slur; yodel; belt, carol, chant, chorus, croon, descant, harmonize, troll, vocalize; lilt, scat

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

³warble

noun

Definition of WARBLE

1

: a swelling under the skin especially of the back of cattle, horses, and wild mammals caused by infestation with maggots of a botfly or warble fly

2

: the maggot of a warble fly

— war·bled \-bəld\ adjective

Origin of WARBLE

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to obsolete Swedish varbulde boil, from var pus + bulde swelling

First Known Use: circa 1585

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

war·ble

noun \ˈwȯr-bəl\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of WARBLE

1

: a swelling under the hide especially of the back of cattle, horses, and wild mammals caused by the maggot of a botfly or warble fly

2

: the maggot of a warble fly

—war·bled \-bəld\ (audio pronunciation) adjective