Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Whistle?

\Whis"tle\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Whistled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Whistling}.] [AS. hwistlian; akin to Sw. hvissla, Dan. hvisle, Icel. hv[=i]sla to whisper, and E. whisper. [root]43. See {Whisper}.] 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. The weary plowman leaves the task of day, And, trudging homeward, whistles on the way. --Gay. 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. 3. To sound shrill, or like a pipe; to make a sharp, shrill sound; as, a bullet whistles through the air. The wild winds whistle, and the billows roar. --Pope.
\Whis"tle\, v. t. 1. To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, to whistle a tune or an air. 2. To send, signal, or call by a whistle. He chanced to miss his dog; we stood still till he had whistled him up. --Addison. {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. I 'ld whistle her off, and let her down the wind To prey at fortune. --Shak. Note: ``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.
\Whis"tle\, n. [AS. hwistle a pipe, flute, whistle. See {Whistle}, v. i.] 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. Might we but hear The folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes, . . . Or whistle from the lodge. --Milton. The countryman could not forbear smiling, . . . and by that means lost his whistle. --Spectator. They fear his whistle, and forsake the seas. --Dryden. 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. 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}). The bells she jingled, and the whistle blew. --Pope. 4. The mouth and throat; -- so called as being the organs of whistling. [Colloq.] So was her jolly whistle well ywet. --Chaucer. Let's drink the other cup to wet our whistles. --Walton. {Whistle duck} (Zo["o]l.), the American golden-eye.