Sekirov Dictionary

squawk

/skwɔːk/

noun 6
verb 6
forms 6

noun6

A shrill noise, especially made by a voice or bird. If made by a bird, it typically signals discomfort or anger; a yell, scream, or call.
An issue or complaint related to aircraft maintenance.
•
(informal) A complaint or objection.
- That was the last roundup for McCutcheon’s Cresswell; it never moved from that field again. Not that there was any squawk from the landlord; the two of them owned it, of course. — 1983
•
(informal) A warning message indicating a possible error.
- The function-hiding code above, for instance, goes through a different (but widely used) compiler with nary a squawk. — 2012
A four-digit transponder code used by aircraft for identification or transmission of emergency signals.
The American night heron.

verb6

•
To make a squawking noise; to yell, scream, or call out shrilly.
- The hens woke up squawking with terror because they had all dreamed simultaneously of hearing a gun go off in the distance. — 1943
(slang) To speak out; to protest.
•
(informal) To produce a warning message, indicating a possible error.
- That way, if you type = instead of ==, the compiler will squawk because you can't assign something to a constant. — 1993
•
(slang) To report an infraction; to rat on or tattle; to disclose a secret.
- "I'll slit your throat if you squawk on us," Krantz threatened. — 1948
•
To set or transmit a four-digit transponder code. (Normally followed by the specific code in question.)
- After discovering that the hydraulic system is faulty, the pilots squawked 7700 and declared mayday.
(slang, old-fashioned) To back out in a mean way.

forms

squawked · squawkedst · squawking · squawketh · squawks · squawkest

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