bellow

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To shout in a very loud, deep voice.

   The coach bellowed instructions across the field.

2. 2
   verb

   To make a loud, deep noise like an angry bull.

   The bull bellowed in pain.

3. 3
   noun

   A loud, deep roar or shout.

   His angry bellow filled the hallway.

From Middle English belwen, from Old English belgan, bylgan (“to become angry, to swell with rage”), ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to sound, roar”), whence also belg (“leather bag”), bellan (“to roar”), blāwan (“to blow”). Cognate with German bellen (“to bark”), Russian бле́ять (bléjatʹ, “baa, bleat”). Compare billow (“wave”), of the same root, also bulge, with related etymology to swelling. Potentially related to bawl, Swedish böl (“bawl”).

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