whistling

[ hwis-ling, wis- ]

/ ˈʰwɪs lɪŋ, ˈwɪs- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR whistling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of a person or thing that whistles.

the sound produced.

Veterinary Pathology. a form of roaring characterized by a peculiarly shrill sound.

Origin of whistling

before 900; Middle English; Old English hwistlung. See whistle, -ing¹

Words nearby whistling

whistle-blower, whistle-stop, whistler, whistler's mother, whistler, james, whistling, whistling buoy, whistling duck, whistling swan, whit, whit monday

Definition for whistling (2 of 2)

whistle

[ hwis-uh l, wis- ]

/ ˈʰwɪs əl, ˈwɪs- /

verb (used without object), whis·tled, whis·tling.

to make a clear musical sound, a series of such sounds, or a high-pitched, warbling sound by the forcible expulsion of the breath through a small opening formed by contracting the lips, or through the teeth, with the aid of the tongue.

to make such a sound or series of sounds otherwise, as by blowing on some device.

to emit similar sounds from the mouth, as birds do.

(of a device) to produce a similar sound when actuated by steam or the like: This teakettle whistles when it boils.

to move, go, pass, etc., with a whistling or whizzing sound, as a bullet or the wind.

verb (used with object), whis·tled, whis·tling.

to produce by whistling: to whistle a tune.

to call, direct, or signal by or as by whistling: He whistled his dog over.

to send with a whistling or whizzing sound.

noun

an instrument for producing whistling sounds by means of the breath, steam, etc., as a small wooden or tin tube, a pipe, or a similar device with an air chamber containing a small ball that oscillates when air is forced through an opening, producing a high-pitched, warbling tone.

a sound produced by whistling: a prolonged whistle of astonishment.

a simple fipple flute.

Verb Phrases

whistle for, to demand or expect without success: After promising to pay, he told us we could whistle for our money.

Origin of whistle

before 950; (v.) Middle English whistlen, Old English hwistlian; akin to Old Norse hvīsla to whistle, hviskra to whisper; see whine; (noun) Middle English; Old English hwistle instrument, akin to the v.

OTHER WORDS FROM whistle

whis·tle·a·ble, adjective in·ter·whis·tle, verb (used with object), in·ter·whis·tled, in·ter·whis·tling. un·whis·tled, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for whistling

When my first novel, Whistling in the Dark, was declared a breakout hit and New York Times bestseller, I was utterly bowled over.

Horror Stories From the Book Tour Life |Lesley Kagen |August 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They called him Jolly because he was always happy, singing and whistling.

The Stacks: The Neville Brothers Stake Their Claim as Bards of the Bayou |John Ed Bradley |April 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I knew every volume by its colour and examined them all, passing slowly around the library and whistling to keep up my spirits.

Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show |Robert W. Chambers |February 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The whistling through the steel also continued from on high, but now it was clear it should not have seemed eerie at all.

New York City’s Sandy Disaster: A Meteorological 9/11? |Michael Daly |October 30, 2012 |DAILY BEAST

These coping strategies and this hopefulness seem to me to be a lot of whistling in the dark.

The State of Gaza |Kathleen Peratis |May 15, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
The only occupant of Number 25 who seemed to be happy that night was Songbird, who came in whistling gaily.

The Rover Boys on a Tour |Arthur M. Winfield
Symptoms: Cough, rapid breathing, whistling, rattling and bubbling in throat.

Pratt's Practical Pointers on the Care of Livestock and Poultry |Pratt Food Co.
After the game he rolled up to his house perfectly satisfied, whistling to himself.

The Loom of Youth |Alec Waugh
She ran home through the moonlight, bareheaded, whistling as carelessly as a boy.

The Odds |Ethel M. Dell
An engine that expends all its steam in whistling, has nothing left with which to turn wheels.

The Simple Life |Charles Wagner

British Dictionary definitions for whistling (1 of 2)

whistling

/ (ˈwɪslɪŋ) /

noun

vet science a breathing defect of horses characterized by a high-pitched sound with each intake of air Compare roaring (def. 6)

British Dictionary definitions for whistling (2 of 2)

whistle

/ (ˈwɪsəl) /

verb

to produce (shrill or flutelike musical sounds), as by passing breath through a narrow constriction most easily formed by the pursed lips he whistled a melody

(tr) to signal, summon, or command by whistling or blowing a whistle the referee whistled the end of the game

(of a kettle, train, etc) to produce (a shrill sound) caused by the emission of steam through a small aperture

(intr) to move with a whistling sound caused by rapid passage through the air

(of animals, esp birds) to emit (a shrill sound) resembling human whistling

whistle in the dark to try to keep up one's confidence in spite of fear

noun

a device for making a shrill high-pitched sound by means of air or steam under pressure

a shrill sound effected by whistling

a whistling sound, as of a bird, bullet, the wind, etc

a signal, warning, command, etc, transmitted by or as if by a whistle

the act of whistling

music any pipe that is blown down its end and produces sounds on the principle of a flue pipe, usually having as a mouthpiece a fipple cut in the side

wet one's whistle informal to take an alcoholic drink

blow the whistle (usually foll by on) informal

to inform (on)
to bring a stop (to)

Word Origin for whistle

Old English hwistlian; related to Old Norse hvīsla

Idioms and Phrases with whistling

whistle

In addition to the idioms beginning with whistle

whistle Dixie
whistle for
whistle in the dark

also see:

blow the whistle on
clean as a whistle
slick as a whistle
wet one's whistle

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

whistling

noun

Origin of whistling

Words nearby whistling

Definition for whistling (2 of 2)

verb (used without object), whis·tled, whis·tling.

verb (used with object), whis·tled, whis·tling.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of whistle

OTHER WORDS FROM whistle

Example sentences from the Web for whistling

British Dictionary definitions for whistling (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for whistling (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Word Origin for whistle

Idioms and Phrases with whistling

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

whistling

noun

Origin of whistling

Words nearby whistling

Definition for whistling (2 of 2)

verb (used without object), whis·tled, whis·tling.

verb (used with object), whis·tled, whis·tling.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of whistle

OTHER WORDS FROM whistle

Words related to whistling

Example sentences from the Web for whistling

British Dictionary definitions for whistling (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for whistling (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Word Origin for whistle

Idioms and Phrases with whistling