zeepnoun (& interjection)
Meaning & use
- 1878–A high-pitched noise like that produced by friction or something travelling at speed. Also as int. (frequently reduplicated).Chiefly used with reference to sounds made by birds or insects.
- 1878
As soon as the cages touched the bees they [sc. the bees] made a ‘zeep’.
Gleanings Bee Culture April 110/2 - 1908
The bush sparrow stood out vividly... ‘Zeep,’ ‘zeep,’ came out of the dimness.
, Leaf & Tendril vi. 120 - 1965
Females of all three [warbler] species give Chips and Zeeps..which probably keep the male aware of the female's presence and location.
Wilson Bulletin vol. 77 371 - a1974
One hears the soft zeep-zeep of bullets whispering by.
, Suddenly we didn't want to Die (1993) i. 56 - 1992
Another common katydid that tried my patience was..the Fork-Tailed... His sharp two- or four-syllable zeep rang out above the background noises at long irregular intervals.
, Crickets & Katydids, Concerts & Solos 90 - 2011
The [cricket] song is a series of high, buzzy ‘zeeps’.
, Cricket Radio v. 79