howl, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

howl v.

[fig. use of SE]

1. (US) to celebrate wildly.

1894		A. Morrison Tales of Mean Streets (1983) 31: There is no other fair like Whit Monday’s on Wanstead Flats. Here is a square mile and more of open land where you may howl at large.
1962		W.R. Burnett Widow Barony 60: ‘It’s been rough for us at Villa Texas. We never get to see anything or do anything. We figured this was our night to howl’.

2. (US) to complain.

1886		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 16 Oct. 14/2: There in considerable howling about strengthening the New York nine, but we fail to see where tbey are weak .
1900		Sporting Times 9 June 3/3: I reckon Tommie and Archie feel slightly sick that I’m not howling any over that seven pound four, eh?
1909		W. Irwin Confessions of a Con Man 89: It proves the weakness of your position, and the sucker howls harder than ever.
1925		D. Hammett ‘Corkscrew’ Story Omnibus (1966) 230: You’ve got nothing to howl about.
1936		W.R. Burnett King Cole 56: ‘[I]f I’m not mistaken, you were howling around here because you and Fred didn’t make connections on your elopement’.
1948		T. Thursday ‘Movie Stuff’ in Detective Story Apr. 🌐 Didn’t he howl like hell because we asked for overtime?
1960		‘Nino Culotta’ Cop This Lot 196: Wodda they all howlin’ about?
1975		K. Willey Ghosts of the Big Country 59: I suppose I’ll get howled down for saying it.

In phrases

howl on (v.)

(Aus. Und.) to complain about.

1993

Smith & Noble Neddy (1998) 152: When the day of the meeting arrived he didn’t turn up. I was howling on him for keeping me waiting. After a few hours I started to worry.

on the howl

(Aus./US) on a drunken spree.

1871		C.G. Leland ‘Breitsmann in Holland’ in Hans Breitmann in Europe 246: Dwo weeks der Breitmann studiet, / Vile he vent it on de howl, / Ile shpree so moosh to find de troot, / Dat he lookt like a bi-led owl.
1914		Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Sept. 24/1: Likewise [she] did her cheque in in the way once beloved by shearers. The last time she was on the howl she sidestepped into the Murrumbidgee at Wagga and passed out. Peace to her ashes, for she was a girl of the old brigade.