int. [Imitative.]
a. An exclamation of vague meaning.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxx. 295. Yowe! þat schalke shuld not shamely be shente.
b. An imitation of the yelp or bark of a dog, or the miaow of a cat; also as sb. and v. (reduplicated yow-yow).
1820. Edin. Mag., May, 452. To yow, to caterwaul.
1837. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. I. Spectre Tapp. Yow!—yeough!—yeough!—yow!—yow! yelled a hapless sufferer from beneath the table. Ibid. (1839), Cynotaph. Cupid, of ‘Yow-Yow’-ing memory.
1866. Sir T. Seaton, From Cadet to Col., I. iv. 103. A mob of pretty dogs, yow-yowing musically after a poor little beast.
