peal

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
peal/piːl/

▶noun

• 1 a loud ringing of a bell or bells.

  ■ Bell-ringing a series of changes rung on a set of bells.

  ■ a set of bells.

• 2 a loud repeated or reverberating sound of thunder or laughter.

▶verb

• 1 ring loudly or in a peal.

• 2 (of laughter or thunder) sound in a peal.

– origin ME: shortening of appeal.