I. ˈwāl verb
Etymology: Middle English weilen, waylen, perhaps modification (influenced by Middle English weilawei wellaway) of Old Norse væla, vāla to wail; akin to Old Norse vei woe — more at woe
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1. : to express sorrow audibly : lament
2. : to make a sound suggestive of a mournful cry
3. : to express dissatisfaction plaintively : complain
transitive verb
archaic
1. : bewail
2. : to say or express plaintively
wail ed that her cake was ruined
• wail·er ˈwā-lər noun
II. noun
Date: 15th century
1. : the act or practice of wailing : loud lamentation
2.
a. : a usually prolonged cry or sound expressing grief or pain
b. : a sound suggestive of wailing
the wail of an air-raid siren
c. : a querulous expression of grievance : complaint