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When the twelve notes within the octave are tuned using meantone temperament, one of the fifths will be much sharper than the rest. The notes that meantone temperament was normally based around meant that the interval G♯ to E♭ will be this anomalous interval. This interval is known as a diminished sixth, which is meant to be the enharmonic equivalent to a fifth; however, the interval did not sound the same as the other fifths: it was severely augmented and dissonant, and seemed to howl like a wolf. This anomalous interval thus came to be called the wolf fifth. By extension, any interval which is regarded as in like manner howling may be called a wolf.