Howl (houl), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Howled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Howling.] [OE. houlen, hulen; akin to D. huilen, MHG. hiulen, hiuweln, OHG. hiuwilōn to exult, h�wo owl, Dan. hyle to howl.] 1. To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
And dogs in corners set them down to howl. Drayton.
Methought a legion of foul fiends
Environ'd me about, and howled in my ears. Shak.
2. To utter a sound expressive of distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.
Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand. Is. xiii. 6.
3. To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.
Wild howled the wind. Sir W. Scott.
Howling monkey. (Zoöl.) See Howler, 2. — Howling wilderness, a wild, desolate place inhabited only by wild beasts. Deut. xxxii. 10.