I. ˈhwi-səl, ˈwi- noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwistle; akin to Old Norse hvīsla to whisper
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a small wind instrument in which sound is produced by the forcible passage of breath through a slit in a short tube
a police whistle
b. : a device through which air or steam is forced into a cavity or against a thin edge to produce a loud sound
a factory whistle
2.
a. : a shrill clear sound produced by forcing breath out or air in through the puckered lips
b. : the sound produced by a whistle
c. : a signal given by or as if by whistling
3. : a sound that resembles a whistle ; especially : a shrill clear note of or as if of a bird
II. verb
( whis·tled ; whis·tling -s(ə-)liŋ)
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to utter a shrill clear sound by blowing or drawing air through the puckered lips
b. : to utter a shrill note or call resembling a whistle
c. : to make a shrill clear sound especially by rapid movement
the wind whistled
d. : to blow or sound a whistle
2.
a. : to give a signal or issue an order or summons by or as if by whistling
b. : to make a demand without result
he did a sloppy job, so he can whistle for his money
transitive verb
1.
a. : to send, bring, signal, or call by or as if by whistling
b. : to charge (as a basketball or hockey player) with an infraction
2. : to produce, utter, or express by whistling
whistle a tune
• whis·tle·able -sə-lə-bəl adjective
•
- whistle in the dark