squeak

name

Etymology: An allusion to the newspaper cartoon strip Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

1. The British War Medal.

noun

1. A short, high-pitched sound, as of two objects rubbing together, or the sounds made by mice and other small animals.
2. A card game similar to group solitaire.
3. A narrow squeak.

   “"I had the very devil of a squeak for it," he went on. "I did the hurdles over two or three garden-walls, but so did the flyer who was on my tracks, and he drove me back into the straight and down to High Street like any lamplighter. […]”

verb

1. To emit a short, high-pitched sound.

   “But I must warn you that chipboard floors are always likely to squeak. The material is still being used in new-builds, but developers now use adhesive to bed and joint it, rather than screws or nails. I suspect the adhesive will eventually embrittle and crack, resulting in the same squeaking problems as before.”

2. To inform, to squeal.

   “If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him.”

3. To speak or sound in a high-pitched manner.
4. To empty the pile of 13 cards a player deals to oneself in the card game of the same name.
5. To win or progress by a narrow margin.

   “[…] allowing Parkinson to squeak into the final by a half-point margin.”

   “France were transformed from the feeble, divided unit that had squeaked past Wales in the semi-final, their half-backs finding the corners with beautifully judged kicks from hand, the forwards making yards with every drive and a reorganised Kiwi line-out beginning to malfunction.”