What does wauled mean?
Wauled is the simple past tense and past participle of the dialectal verb waul. In its more recognizable sense, it means to wail or cry loudly, as a frightened child, grieving person, or animal might do. In another established use, it means to haul or drag, often something heavy or difficult to move. The word appears chiefly in regional and literary English and is much less common in ordinary contemporary use than wailed or hauled. Although its two senses seem unrelated, both belong to the long-established vocabulary of British and American dialects. Wauled is most often encountered in narrative descriptions of loud crying, but context is important: in an account of moving heavy objects, the same form may instead describe dragging or hauling. Its rarity makes it especially noticeable in writing, where it can add a vivid, regional, or old-fashioned tone.
verbThe simple past tense and past participle of waul. It can mean to wail or cry loudly, or to haul or drag something.
- Wailed or cried loudly.
- Hauled or dragged.
"The child wauled until her mother returned."
"The frightened mare wauled in the darkness."
"They wauled the heavy chest up the narrow stair."
Wauled is the past-tense form of waul, a compact dialect word that can mean either to wail or to haul.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wauled
Wauled is an inflected form of the Middle English and dialectal verb waul, meaning to wail or cry loudly. It belongs to the same broad Germanic word family represented in English by wail, weal, and welt. The verb also has a dialectal sense meaning to haul or drag, although the precise historical relationship between that meaning and the older sense of crying is uncertain.
Related word forms
How wauled is actually used
Wauled is uncommon in modern standard English and survives mainly in dialectal, regional, or literary usage. Its sense and register may vary by region, and writers may prefer wailed or hauled where their intended meaning is clear.
Easily confused with wauled
Wauled is the past form of waul, meaning to cry loudly or haul, whereas waled is the past form of wale, a separate word associated with welts, marks, or selection for punishment.