— squeakingly , adv.
/skweek/ , n.
1. a short, sharp, shrill cry; a sharp, high-pitched sound.
2. Informal. opportunity; chance: their last squeak to correct the manuscript.
3. an escape from defeat, danger, death, or destruction (usually qualified by narrow or close ).
v.i.
4. to utter or emit a squeak or squeaky sound.
5. Slang. to confess or turn informer; squeal.
v.t.
6. to utter or sound with a squeak or squeaks.
7. squeak by or through , to succeed, survive, pass, win, etc., by a very narrow margin: They can barely squeak by on their income. The team managed to squeak through.
[ 1350-1400; ME squeken, perh. skväka to croak ]