Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Whistle
Whis′tle
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Whistled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Whistling
.] [AS.
hwistlian
; akin to Sw. hvissla
, Dan. hvisle
, Icel. hvīsla
to whisper, and E. whisper
. √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,
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 airThe wild winds
whistle
, and the billows roar. Pope.
Whis′tle
,Verb.
T.
1.
To form, utter, or modulate by whistling;
as, to
. whistle
a tune or an air2.
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
To prey at fortune.
whistle
her off
, and let her down the windTo prey at fortune.
Shakespeare
☞ “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.
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
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; .
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
(Zool.)
, the American golden-eye.
Webster 1828 Edition
Whistle
WHISTLE
,Verb.
I.
1.
To utter a kind of musical sound, by pressing the breath through a small orifice formed by contracting the lips.While the plowman near at hand, whistles oer the furrowd land.
2.
To make a sound with a small wind instrument.3.
To sound shrill, or like a pipe.The wild winds whistle, and the billows roar.
WHISTLE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To form, utter or modulate by whistling; as, to whistle a tune or air.2.
To call by a whistle; as, he whistled back his dog.WHISTLE
,Noun.
1.
A small wind instrument.2.
The sound made by a small wind instrument.3.
Sound made by pressing the breath through a small orifice of the lips.4.
The mouth; the organ of whistling. [Vulgar.]5.
A small pipe, used by a boatswain to summon the sailors to their duty; the boatswains call.6.
The shrill sound of winds passing among trees or through crevices, &c.7.
A call, such as sportsmen use to their dogs.