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whistlemore about whistle

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" 




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