2. To break silence or secrecy for fear of pain or punishment; to speak; to confess. [Colloq.]
If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him.
Dryden. Squeak
(Squeak), n. A sharp, shrill, disagreeable sound suddenly utered, either of the human voice
or of any animal or instrument, such as is made by carriage wheels when dry, by the soles of leather
shoes, or by a pipe or reed.
Squeaker
(Squeak"er) n.
1. One who, or that which, squeaks.
2. (Zoöl.) The Australian gray crow shrile (Strepera anaphonesis); — so called from its note.
Squeakingly
(Squeak"ing*ly), adv. In a squeaking manner.
Squeal
(Squeal) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Squealed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Squealing.] [Of Scand. origin; cf. Sw.
sqväla, Norw. skvella. Cf. Squeak, Squall.]
1. To cry with a sharp, shrill, prolonged sound, as certain animals do, indicating want, displeasure, or
pain.
2. To turn informer; to betray a secret. [Slang]
Squeal
(Squeal), n. A shrill, somewhat prolonged cry.
Squealer
(Squeal"er) n.
1. One who, or that which, squeals.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) The European swift. (b) The harlequin duck. (c) The American golden plover.
Squeamish
(Squeam"ish) a. [OE. squaimous, sweymous, probably from OE. sweem, swem, dizziness,
a swimming in the head; cf. Icel. svemr a bustle, a stir, Norw. sveim a hovering about, a sickness
that comes upon one, Icel. svimi a giddiness, AS. swimi. The word has been perhaps confused witrh
qualmish. Cf. Swim to be dizzy.] Having a stomach that is easily or nauseated; hence, nice to excess
in taste; fastidious; easily disgusted; apt to be offended at trifling improprieties.
Quoth he, that honor's very squeamish
That takes a basting for a blemish.
Hudibras.
His muse is rustic, and perhaps too plain
The men of squeamish taste to entertain.
Southern.
So ye grow squeamish, Gods, and sniff at heaven.
M. Arnold. Syn. — Fastidious; dainty; overnice; scrupulous. See Fastidious.
— Squeam"ish*ly, adv. — Squeam"ish*ness, n.
Squeamous
(Squeam"ous) a. Squeamish. [Obs.]
Squeasiness
(Squea"si*ness) n. Queasiness. [Obs.]
Squeasy
(Squea"sy) a. Queasy; nice; squeamish; fastidious; scrupulous. [Obs.] Bp. Earle.
Squeegee
(Squee"gee) n. Same as Squilgee.
