Part 709

If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him.

Dryden.

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.

Squeak"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, squeaks.

2. (Zoöl.) The Australian gray crow shrile (Strepera anaphonesis); -- so called from its note.

Squeak"ing*ly, adv. In a squeaking manner.

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, n. A shrill, somewhat prolonged cry.

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.

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. swmi. 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.

Squeam"ous (?), a. Squeamish. [Obs.]

Squea"si*ness (?), n. Queasiness. [Obs.]

Squea"sy (?), a. Queasy; nice; squeamish; fastidious; scrupulous. [Obs.] Bp. Earle.

Squee"gee (?), n. Same as Squilgee.

Squeeze (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squeezed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Squeezing.] [OE. queisen, AS. cwsan, cwsan, cwsan, of uncertain origin. The s- was probably prefixed through the influence of squash, v.t.] 1. To press between two bodies; to press together closely; to compress; often, to compress so as to expel juice, moisture, etc.; as, to squeeze an orange with the fingers; to squeeze the hand in friendship.

2. Fig.: To oppress with hardships, burdens, or taxes; to harass; to crush.

In a civil war, people must expect to be crushed and squeezed toward the burden.

L'Estrange.