Squawk is a loud, harsh, unpleasant cry or complaint. When a chicken gets startled, it makes a squawking sound: sharp, jarring, and impossible to ignore. Parrots, seagulls, and other birds also squawk, especially when they're alarmed or demanding attention.

People squawk too, though we mean it in a different way. When someone squawks about something, they're complaining loudly and persistently. If students squawk about having too much homework, they're making their displeasure heard by anyone who will listen, complaining repeatedly and forcefully. A customer might squawk about poor service at a restaurant, or a little brother might squawk when he doesn't get his way.

The word captures both the sound and the feeling: something grating, persistent, and hard to ignore. When you squawk, you're not expressing yourself calmly or diplomatically. You're making noise about your unhappiness, like that startled chicken in the yard. Someone who constantly squawks about minor problems can become as annoying as an actual squawking bird at dawn.