Screech \Screech\, n. A harsh, shrill cry, as of one in acute pain or in fright; a shriek; a scream.

Screech bird, or Screech thrush (Zo["o]l.), the fieldfare; -- so called from its harsh cry before rain.

Screech rain.

Screech hawk (Zo["o]l.), the European goatsucker; -- so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.]

Screech owl. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) A small American owl (Scops asio), either gray or reddish in color.
   (b) The European barn owl. The name is applied also to other species.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Screech \Screech\ (skr[=e]ch), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Screeched; p. pr. & vb. n. Screeching.]

[Also formerly, scritch, OE. skriken, skrichen, schriken, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. skr[ae]kja to shriek, to screech, skr[imac]kja to titter, Sw. skrika to shriek, Dan. skrige; also Gael. sgreach, sgreuch, W. ysgrechio, Skr. kharj to creak. Cf. Shriek, v., Scream, v.]

To utter a harsh, shrill cry; to make a sharp outcry, as in terror or acute pain; to scream; to shriek. ``The screech owl, screeching loud.'' --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)