yelp

Etymology 1

From Middle English ȝelp, yelp, from Old English ġielp (“boasting, arrogance, pride”), from Proto-West Germanic *gelp, from Proto-Germanic *gelpą (“boasting”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰel- (“to shout”).

noun

1. An abrupt, high-pitched noise or utterance.
   The puppy let out a yelp when I stepped on her tail.
2. A type of emergency vehicle siren sounding quicker and more intense than the wail.

Etymology 2

From Middle English ȝelpen, yelpen, from Old English ġielpan (“to boast”), from Proto-West Germanic *gelpan, from Proto-Germanic *gelpaną (“to sound off, boast”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰel‑ (“to call, shout, scream”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian jalpe, galpe (“to bleep; cheep”), German Low German galpen (“to scream, shriek, howl”), Middle High German gelpfen, gelpfen (“to roar, howl, bark, boast, sing loudly”).

verb

1. To utter an abrupt, high-pitched noise.
   The children yelped with delight as they played in the cold water.