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wail (v.)
early 14c., from Old Norse
væla
"to lament," from
væ
"woe" (see
woe
). Of jazz musicians, "to play very well," attested from 1955, American English slang (
wailing
"excellent" is attested from 1954). Related:
Wailed
.
wail (n.)
c.1400; see
wail
(v.).