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Braying is the characteristic sound made by an ass, donkey or mule. Donkeys use this sound to communicate and will bray more frequently when a new donkey is encountered. The sound typically lasts for twenty seconds.
The sound may be rendered onomatapoeically as "eeyore" and so this was used as the name of the donkey in Winnie-the-Pooh.
Such animals may be trained to bray or not to bray upon command. This may be used as a form of mockery.
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Braying may be considered a simile for loud and foolish speech. For example,
There are braying men in the world as well as braying asses; for what's loud and senseless talking and swearing, any other than braying
— Sir Roger L'Estrange
References
- EA Canacoo, FK Avornyo (1998), "Daytime activities of donkeys at range in the coastal savanna of Ghana", Applied Animal Behaviour Science
- G Whitehead, J French, P Ikin (1991), "Welfare and veterinary care of donkeys", In Practice, British Veterinary Association
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - To Prevent a Donkey's Braying, The Daily Telegraph, May 30, 1895
- This mule brays to order, The New York Times, January 1, 1903
- Tryon Edwards, A Dictionary of Thoughts, p. 560