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whistlingmore about whistling

whistling

 

  3  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]: 
 
  Whistling  \Whis"tling\, 
  a.  &  n.  from  {Whistle},  v. 
 
  {Whistling  buoy}.  (Naut.)  See  under  {Buoy}. 
 
  {Whistling  coot}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  American  black  scoter. 
 
  {Whistling  Dick}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  An  Australian  shrike  thrush  ({Colluricincla  Selbii}). 
  b  The  song  thrush.  [Prov.  Eng.] 
 
  {Whistling  duck}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  The  golden-eye. 
  b  A  tree  duck. 
 
  {Whistling  eagle}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  small  Australian  eagle 
  ({Haliastur  sphenurus});  --  called  also  {whistling  hawk}, 
  and  {little  swamp  eagle}. 
 
  {Whistling  plover}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  The  golden  plover. 
  b  The  black-bellied,  or  gray,  plover. 
 
  {Whistling  snipe}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  American  woodcock. 
 
  {Whistling  swan}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  The  European  whooper  swan;  --  called  also  {wild  swan}, 
  and  {elk}. 
  b  An  American  swan  ({Olor  columbianus}).  See  under  {Swan}. 
 
 
  {Whistling  teal}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  tree  duck,  as  {Dendrocygna 
  awsuree}  of  India. 
 
  {Whistling  thrush}.  (Zo["o]l.) 
  a  Any  one  of  several  species  of  singing  birds  of  the  genus 
  {Myiophonus},  native  of  Asia,  Australia,  and  the  East 
  Indies.  They  are  generally  black,  glossed  with  blue,  and 
  have  a  patch  of  bright  blue  on  each  shoulder.  Their  note 
  is  a  loud  and  clear  whistle. 
  b  The  song  thrush.  [Prov.  Eng.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  whistling 
  n  1:  the  sound  made  by  something  moving  rapidly  or  by  steam 
  coming  out  of  a  small  aperture  [syn:  {whistle}] 
  2:  the  act  of  whistling  a  tune;  "his  cheerful  whistling 
  indicated  that  he  enjoyed  his  work" 
  3:  the  act  of  signalling  (e.g.,  summoning)  by  whistling  or 
  blowing  a  whistle;  "the  whistle  signalled  the  end  of  the 
  game"  [syn:  {whistle}]




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