Definition of the word mew

The word "mew" to describe the sound made by domestic cats originated from Old English and evolved through Middle English. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "myu," which meant both the cry of a cat and a nest for birds. Over time, "myu" transformed into "muow" in Middle English, which eventually became "mew" in its current modern form. The word "mew" specifically refers to the soft, high-pitched vocalization that cats make, often when they want attention or seek out prey. The connection to "myu" and bird nests is debated among linguists. Some suggest that the former meaning of "myu" contributed to the development of "mew" to describe the sound made by cats as it shares a similar shape in the mouth and throat. Others hypothesize that the sound cats make while stalking prey had a similar musical quality to the cooing or chirping of birds in a nest, leading to its association with both cats and nests. In summary, "mew" is a phonetic derivative of the Old English word "myu" that originated as a term to describe both the cry of a cat and the nest of a bird. Its current usage specifically connotes the soft, vocalization made by cats, believed to be a result of similarities in sound production between cats hunting and birds nesting.