a. [ Compar. Shriller superl. Shrillest. ] [ OE. shril, schril; akin to LG. schrell, G. schrill. See Shrill, v. i. ] Acute; sharp; piercing; having or emitting a sharp, piercing tone or sound; -- said of a sound, or of that which produces a sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hear the shrill whistle which doth order give
To sounds confused. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let winds be shrill, let waves roll high. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A shrill sound. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Shrilled p. pr. & vb. n. Shrilling. ] [ OE. schrillen, akin to G. schrillen; cf. AS. scralletan to resound loudly, Icel. skrölta to jolt, Sw. skrälla to shrill, Norw. skryla, skr&unr_;la. Cf. Skirl. ] To utter an acute, piercing sound; to sound with a sharp, shrill tone; to become shrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Break we our pipes, that shrilledloud as lark. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

No sounds were heard but of the shrilling cock. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

His voice shrilled with passion. L. Wallace. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To utter or express in a shrill tone; to cause to make a shrill sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

How poor Andromache shrills her dolors forth. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a throat which produces a shrill note. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being shrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a shrill voice. “When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a shrill manner; acutely; with a sharp sound or voice. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Somewhat shrill. [ Poetic ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some kept up a shrilly mellow sound. Keats. [ 1913 Webster ]