GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 3 definitions
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Whistle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Whistled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Whistling (?).] [AS. hwistlian; akin to Sw. hvissla, Dan. hvisle, Icel. hvīsla to whisper, and E. whisper. √43. See Whisper.]
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1. To make a kind of musical sound, or series of sounds, by forcing the breath through a small orifice formed by contracting the lips; also, to emit a similar sound, or series of notes, from the mouth or beak, as birds.
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The weary plowman leaves the task of day,
And, trudging homeward, whistles on the way. Gay.
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2. To make a shrill sound with a wind or steam instrument, somewhat like that made with the lips; to blow a sharp, shrill tone.
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3. To sound shrill, or like a pipe; to make a sharp, shrill sound; as, “a bullet whistles through the air”.
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The wild winds whistle, and the billows roar. Pope.
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Whistle, v. t.
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1. To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, “to whistle a tune or an air”.
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2. To send, signal, or call by a whistle.
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He chanced to miss his dog; we stood still till he had whistled him up. Addison.
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To whistle off. (a) To dismiss by a whistle; -- a term in hawking. “AS a long-winged hawk when he is first whistled off the fist, mounts aloft.” Burton. (b) Hence, in general, to turn loose; to abandon; to dismiss.
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I 'ld whistle her off, and let her down the wind
To prey at fortune. Shak.
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☞ “A hawk seems to have been usually sent off in this way, against the wind when sent in search of prey; with or down the wind, when turned loose, and abandoned.” Nares.
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Whistle, n. [AS. hwistle a pipe, flute, whistle. See Whistle, v. i.]
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1. A sharp, shrill, more or less musical sound, made by forcing the breath through a small orifice of the lips, or through or instrument which gives a similar sound; the sound used by a sportsman in calling his dogs; the shrill note of a bird; as, “the sharp whistle of a boy, or of a boatswain's pipe; the blackbird's mellow whistle”.
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Might we but hear
The folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes, . . .
Or whistle from the lodge. Milton.
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The countryman could not forbear smiling, . . . and by that means lost his whistle. Spectator.
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They fear his whistle, and forsake the seas. Dryden.
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2. The shrill sound made by wind passing among trees or through crevices, or that made by bullet, or the like, passing rapidly through the air; the shrill noise (much used as a signal, etc.) made by steam or gas escaping through a small orifice, or impinging against the edge of a metallic bell or cup.
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3. An instrument in which gas or steam forced into a cavity, or against a thin edge, produces a sound more or less like that made by one who whistles through the compressed lips; as, “a child's whistle; a boatswain's whistle; a steam whistle (see Steam whistle, under Steam)”.
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The bells she jingled, and the whistle blew. Pope.
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4. The mouth and throat; -- so called as being the organs of whistling. [Colloq.]
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So was her jolly whistle well ywet. Chaucer.
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Let's drink the other cup to wet our whistles. Walton.
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Whistle duck (Zool.), the American golden-eye.
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