scowl

From Middle English scowlen, scoulen, skoulen (also as Middle English schoulen), probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Danish skule (“to scowl”), Norwegian skule (“to scowl”).

• enPR: skoul, IPA^(key): /skaʊl/

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• Rhymes: -aʊl

scowl (plural scowls)

1. The wrinkling of the brows or face in frowning; the expression of displeasure, sullenness, or discontent in the countenance; an angry frown.
2. (by extension) Gloom; dark or threatening aspect.

• scowlful
• scowly

scowl (third-person singular simple present scowls, present participle scowling, simple past and past participle scowled)

1. (intransitive) To wrinkle the brows, as in frowning or displeasure; to put on a frowning look; to look sour, sullen, severe, or angry.
   • Spenser

     She scowled and frowned with froward countenance.

2. (intransitive, by extension) To look gloomy, dark, or threatening; to lower.
   • Thomson

     The scowling heavens.

3. (transitive) To look at or repel with a scowl or a frown.

   to scowl a rival into submission

4. (transitive) To express by a scowl.

   to scowl defiance

scowl (uncountable)

1. (Britain, dialectal, obsolete) Old workings of iron ore.

• Clows, cowls