squeak
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
An escape. Generally used with regard to the avoidance of casualties. Among thieves, too, a prisoner acquitted after a hard trial is said to have had "a narrow SQUEAK for it."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “squeak” mean?
An escape. Generally used with regard to the avoidance of casualties. Among thieves, too, a prisoner acquitted after a hard trial is said to have had "a narrow SQUEAK for it."
Is “squeak” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.