Warble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Warbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Warbling.]
Etymology: [OE. werbelen, OF. werbler; of Teutonic origin; cf. G. wirbeln to turn, to warble, D. wervelen, akin to E. whirl. See Whirl.]
1. To sing in a trilling, quavering, or vibratory manner; to modulate with turns or variations; to trill; as, certain birds are remarkable for warbling their songs.
2. To utter musically; to modulate; to carol. If she be right invoked in warbled song. Milton. Warbling sweet the nuptial lay. Trumbull.
3. To cause to quaver or vibrate. "And touch the warbled string." Milton.
3 other Webster entries under this spelling
Warble, n.
1. (Far.) (a) A small, hard tumor which is produced on the back of a horse by the heat or pressure of the saddle in traveling. (b) A small tumor produced by the larvæ of the gadfly in the backs of horses, cattle, etc. Called also warblet, warbeetle, warnles.
2. (Zoöl.)
See Wormil.
Warble, v. i.
1. To be quavered or modulated; to be uttered melodiously. Such strains ne'er warble in the linnet's throat. Gay.
3. To sing in a trilling manner, or with many turns and variations. "Birds on the branches warbling." Milton.
3. To sing with sudden changes from chest to head tones; to yodel.
Warble, n.
A quavering modulation of the voice; a musical trill; a song. And he, the wondrous child, Whose silver warble wild Outvalued every pulsing sound. Emerson.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for warble; he lists it under sing.
Where he writes about it:
To carol is to sing joyously, and to warble (kindred with whirl) is to sing with trills or quavers, usually also with the idea of joy. — from sing
Carol and warble are especially applied to the singing of birds. — from sing