The spelling of the phrase "night cry" is fairly straightforward, following the basic rules of English spelling. The first word, "night," begins with the consonant cluster /n/ + /aɪ/ (pronounced like "nye"), followed by the single consonant /t/. The second word, "cry," starts with the consonant cluster /k/ + /r/ and adds the vowel sound /aɪ/ to make the "i" sound in "cry." So overall, the phonetic transcription of "night cry" is /naɪt kraɪ/.
Night cry refers to a distinct sound or vocalization that occurs during the night. The term mainly describes the loud and often shrill cry or call made by animals or birds during the nocturnal hours. These calls are typically loud enough to be heard from a considerable distance, often piercing the calmness of the night.
The night cry can be characteristic of various species, serving different purposes. For some animals, it is an expression of territorial dominance, used to mark their presence and discourage other individuals from encroaching upon their territory. In such cases, the cry serves as a warning to potential rivals or intruders.
Additionally, the night cry can also serve as a form of communication between animals, allowing them to locate and attract potential mates. The distinctness and uniqueness of these calls enable individuals to identify and locate partners, thus facilitating successful reproduction.
Furthermore, night cries can be used as an alarm signal, alerting other members of a group or species to potential threats or dangers in the vicinity. By emitting a loud and distinctive call, animals can prompt their fellow peers to be aware and ready to respond to potential predators or other harmful situations.
Overall, the night cry represents a vocal expression in animals that serves various functions including territorial defense, mate attraction, and alarm signaling.
A loud scream uttered by a child during sleep; it is sometimes without apparent significance, but often is a sign of beginning hip-disease or other form of tuberculous arthritis.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "night cry" does not have a specific etymology, as it is a combination of two separate words. However, we can look at the etymology of each word individually:
1. Night: The word "night" originated from the Old English word "niht" which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "nakhts" and the Proto-Indo-European root "*nokwts". This root refers to the period between sunset and sunrise when it is dark.
2. Cry: The word "cry" has its roots in the Old English word "crie", which came from the Proto-Germanic word "*krig-" meaning "to cry out, call". It can be further traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*krei-" meaning "to lament, complain, or wail".