browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
whistle |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Whistle \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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Whistle \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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: whistle n 1: the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture [syn: {whistling}] 2: the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle; "the whistle signalled the end of the game" [syn: {whistling}] 3: a device that forces air or steam against an edge or into a cavity and so produces a loud shrill sound 4: an inexpensive fipple flute [syn: {pennywhistle}, {tin whistle}] v 1: make whistling sounds; "He lay there snoring and whistling" 2: move with or as with a whistling sound: "The bullets whistled past him" 3: utter or express by whistling; "She whistled a melody" 4: move send or bring as if by whistling; "Her optimism whistled away these worries" 5: make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound; "the kettle was singing"; "the bullet sang past his ear" [syn: {sing}] 6: give a signal by whistling; "She whistled for her maid"
more about whistle
This work is licensed under a
