squall
To cry or fuss loud, especially a baby or a grown person throwing a fit.
Also called squallin'.
Updated September 24, 2026
squall pronunciation
/SKWAWL/
Meaning
When a baby is squallin', the whole house knows it. Grown folks can squall too, usually about a bill, a ball game, or somebody cutting them off in the truck. Same word also names a sudden burst of wind and rain, but around here the cry sense gets more porch mileage.
How folks use it
- “That baby's been squallin' since breakfast.”
- “Quit squallin' about the heat and get back to work.”
Origin and etymology
English since the 1600s, likely from a Scandinavian root for crying out. The weather meaning spread wide. The loud-cry meaning hung on strongest in Southern and Appalachian talk, especially for fussy kids.
Frequently asked questions
Does squall only mean a storm?
No. Weather folks use it for a sudden windy rain. In Southern talk it often means somebody yelling or crying hard.