Makes a loud, harsh, unpleasant cry or sound; in finance, to complain loudly and publicly.
Likely a blend of 'squall' (Old Norse 'skvæla') and 'hawk' or 'gawk.' The word mimics the sound itself—it's onomatopoeia created in the 1800s.
Squawk is pure onomatopoeia—the word sounds like the noise! Parrots, crows, and chickens squawk, but humans also squawk when we complain—language mirrors animal behavior.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.