stridor

Noun

stridor (countable and uncountable, plural stridors)

1. A harsh, shrill, unpleasant noise.
   • But when the tilted plank let slide its freight into the sea, a second strange human murmur was heard, blended now with another inarticulate sound proceeding from certain larger sea-fowl, whose attention having been attracted by the peculiar commotion in the water resulting from the heavy sloped...1888–1891, Herman Melville, “[Billy Budd, Foretopman.] Chapter XXVIII.”, in Billy Budd and Other Stories, London: John Lehmann, published 1951, →OCLC
2. A high-pitched sound heard on inspiration resulting from turbulent air flow in the upper airway usually indicative of serious airway obstruction.
   • Her breath-holding increased in duration to almost a minute; her expirations became complicated by stridor, forced retching, and forced phonations ('Oouuggh!').1973, Oliver Sacks, Awakenings, New York: Vintage, published 1999, page 50