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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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