First published 1899; not yet revised More entries for "howling"

howlingadjective

Etymology
Meaning & use
Pronunciation
Frequency
Compounds & derived words

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Factsheet

What does the adjective howling mean?

There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective howling. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

See meaning & use

How common is the adjective howling?

About 0.5occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750	0.45
1760	0.46
1770	0.49
1780	0.56
1790	0.58
1800	0.62
1810	0.67
1820	0.71
1830	0.77
1840	0.85
1850	0.9
1860	0.94
1870	0.98
1880	0.96
1890	0.92
1900	0.89
1910	0.86
1920	0.81
1930	0.75
1940	0.7
1950	0.64
1960	0.57
1970	0.52
1980	0.52
1990	0.54
2000	0.55
2010	0.57

See frequency

How is the adjective howling pronounced?

British English

/ˈhaʊlɪŋ/

HOW-ling

U.S. English

/ˈhaʊlɪŋ/

HOW-ling

See pronunciation

Where does the adjective howling come from?

Earliest known use

early 1600s

The earliest known use of the adjective howling is in the early 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for howling is from before 1605, in the writing of Polwart.

howling is formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: howl v., ‑ing suffix2.

See etymology

Nearby entries

howish, adj.1694–1802
howitz, n.1687–
howitzer, n.1695–
howitzer boat, n.1801–
howl, n.a1616–
howl, v.1390–
howle, n.c1430–1513
howler, n.1800–
howlet, n.c1450–
howling, n.c1440–
howling, adj.a1605–
howling dervish, n.1801–
howlite, n.1868–
howne, n.c1374
howness, n.a1605–
Howship, n.1876–
howsoever, adv.c1450–
howsomever, adv.a1300–
howster, v.1642
how's your father, int. & n.1915–
howtowdie, n.1728–

Browse more nearby entries

Etymology

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Compounds & derived words

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Entry history for howling, adj.

howling, adj. was first published in 1899; not yet revised.

howling, adj. was last modified in February 2024.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into howling, adj. in February 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1899)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

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View howling, ppl. a. in OED Second Edition

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Chicago

Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “,” , .

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“” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, , .

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Citation details

Factsheet for howling, adj.

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Nearby entries

howish, adj.1694–1802
howitz, n.1687–
howitzer, n.1695–
howitzer boat, n.1801–
howl, n.a1616–
howl, v.1390–
howle, n.c1430–1513
howler, n.1800–
howlet, n.c1450–
howling, n.c1440–
howling, adj.a1605–
howling dervish, n.1801–
howlite, n.1868–
howne, n.c1374
howness, n.a1605–
Howship, n.1876–
howsoever, adv.c1450–
howsomever, adv.a1300–
howster, v.1642
how's your father, int. & n.1915–
howtowdie, n.1728–

Browse more nearby entries