n. A harsh, shrill cry, as of one in acute pain or in fright; a shriek; a scream. [ 1913 Webster ]

Screech bird, or
Screech thrush (Zool.), the fieldfare; -- so called from its harsh cry before rain. --
Screech rain. --
Screech hawk (Zool.), the European goatsucker; -- so called from its note. [ Prov. Eng. ] --
Screech owl. (Zool.) (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Screeched p. pr. & vb. n. Screeching. ] [ Also formerly, scritch, OE. skriken, skrichen, schriken, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. skrækja to shriek, to screech, skrīkja 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. (Zool.) The picarian birds, as distinguished from the singing birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a screech; shrill and harsh. [ 1913 Webster ]