Blats

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. Emitting a short, sharp cry or sound characteristic of certain animals such as sheep or goats; making a loud, abrupt noise resembling a bleat; producing a sudden vocal expression often indicating alarm or communication
2. The act of giving a harsh, high-pitched call typical of livestock like sheep or goats; generating a noticeable and piercing sound; vocalizing in a quick, repetitive manner often used as a signal or warning
3. Expressing a rapid, distinct bleating noise common to some ruminants; creating a loud, shrill cry to attract attention or convey emotion; performing a brief, sharp vocalization usually associated with animal sounds

Etymology: "Blats" is the third-person singular present form of "blat," a verb for making a short, sharp cry like a sheep or goat. The verb is imitative, formed by copying the sound it describes, and its first recorded use dates to 1846, when it meant "bleat." The sound is closely tied to "bleat" itself. Both belong to the same imitative family, and "bleat" descends from the Old English "blǣtan," which also meant "to bleat." Its sharp, bleating sound is the same one that gives the verb its character.

Synonyms: blows, hits, strikes, whacks, smacks

Antonyms: misses, avoids, dodges, evades, escapes