adj. & v.
adj. 1 piercing and high-pitched in sound. 2 derog. (esp. of a protester) sharp, unrestrained, unreasoning.
v. 1 intr. (of a cry etc.) sound shrilly. 2 tr. (of a person etc.) utter or send out (a song, complaint, etc.) shrilly. shrilly adv. shrillness n.
[ ME, rel. to LG schrell sharp in tone or taste f. Gmc ]