croak

croak
   1. to die
   A dying person unable to clear mucus in the throat makes such a sound:
    They go mouching along as if they were croaking. (Mayhew, 1851)
   Less often croak means to kill:
    ... the guy who had guts enough to croak Tough Tony'. (Lavine, 1930)
   To croak yourself means to commit suicide.
   A croaker was a doctor, perhaps from his attendances at the deathbed or his supposed professional shortcomings.
   2. obsolete
   towhinge
   A common usage from the 17th century to the Second World War, from the tone of voice usually adopted:
    ... they were civilians and, like all civilians, spent their time in pettifogging or 'croaking'. (Farrell, 1973)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • Croak — Croak, v. t. To utter in a low, hoarse voice; to announce by croaking; to forebode; as, to croak disaster. [1913 Webster] The raven himself is hoarse, That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan. Shak. [1913 Webster] Two ravens now began to croak… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Croak — (kr[=o]k), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Croaked}. (kr[=o]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Croaking}.] [From the primitive of AS. cracettan to croak as a raven; akin to G. kr[aum]chzen to croak, and to E. creak, crake.] 1. To make a low, hoarse noise in the throat,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • croak´i|ly — croak|y «KROH kee», adjective. croak|i|er, croak|i|est. 1. making a croaking sound. 2. given to croaking. –croak´i|ly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • croak|y — «KROH kee», adjective. croak|i|er, croak|i|est. 1. making a croaking sound. 2. given to croaking. –croak´i|ly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • Croak — Croak, n. The coarse, harsh sound uttered by a frog or a raven, or a like sound. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • croak — croak·er; croak; …   English syllables

  • croak — ► NOUN ▪ a characteristic deep hoarse sound made by a frog or a crow. ► VERB 1) utter a croak. 2) informal die. DERIVATIVES croaker noun croakily adverb croaky adjective (croakier …   English terms dictionary

  • croak — [v] make husky, squawking noise caw, crow, gasp, grunt, quack, squawk, utter huskily, utter throatily, wheeze; concept 77 …   New thesaurus

  • croak — [krōk] vi. [ME croken < OE * cracian < cræcettan, to make sounds like a raven < IE base * ger (> CRAKE, CRANE, CROW2), of echoic orig.] 1. to make a deep, hoarse sound, as that of a frog or raven 2. to speak in deep, hoarse tones …   English World dictionary

  • croak|er — «KROH kuhr», noun. 1. a person, animal, or thing that croaks. 2. any one of various fishes that make a croaking or grunting noise: »Two types of fish pan sized gulf croakers and large, gamey corbinas seem to be adapting to the desert sea s tepid… …   Useful english dictionary

  • croak — [[t]kroʊk[/t]] v. i. 1) anb to utter a low pitched, harsh cry, as the sound of a frog or a raven 2) to speak with a low, rasping voice 3) sts Slang. to die 4) to utter by croaking 5) sts Slang. to kill 6) the act or sound of croaking • Etymology …   From formal English to slang

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