I. ˈhwisəl also ˈwi- noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English, from Old English hwistle; akin to Old English hwistlian to whistle; in other senses, from Middle English, from whistlen to whistle
1.
a. : a small wind instrument in which sound is produced by the forcible passage of breath through a slit in a short tube (as of wood or metal)
willow whistle
police whistle
— compare fipple flute
b. : a device through which air or steam is forced into a cavity or against a thin edge to produce a shrill whistling sound
boat whistle
factory whistle
2.
a. : a shrill clear sound produced by forcing breath out or air in through the puckered lips
her figure … inspires admiring whistles — Time
b. : the sound produced by a whistle
the whistle of a distant train
c. : a signal (as a warning or summons) given by or as if by whistling
all his followers … were ready at his whistle — T.B.Macaulay
3. : a sound that resembles a whistle
a whistle of wings — William Beebe
the whine and whistle of bombs — Peter Ustinov
specifically : the shrill clear note of a bird or other animal
the whistle of a cardinal
the whistle of a marmot
II. verb
( whistled ; whistled ; whistling -s(ə)liŋ ; whistles )
Etymology: Middle English whistlen, from Old English hwistlian; akin to Old Norse hvīsla to whisper, hvīna to whiz — more at whine
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to utter a shrill clear sound by blowing or drawing air through the pursed lips
sat up and whistled with surprise — T.B.Costain
b. : to utter a shrill note or call resembling a whistle
the dove whistles and the pigeons coo — Louise Bogan
c. : to make a shrill clear sound especially due to rapid movement
wind whistled among the cornices — Louis Bromfield
bullets began to whistle among the branches — Stephen Crane
d. : to blow or sound a whistle
2.
a. : to signal by or as if by whistling
the referee whistles and play is resumed
b. : to issue an order or summons by or as if by whistling
whistle to a dog
whistle for a taxi
specifically : to demand without result
never returned the book he borrowed so next time he wants one he can just whistle
did a sloppy job so he can whistle for his money
3. : squeal 2a
transitive verb
1.
a. : to signal or summon by or as if by whistling
whistled the chief engineer to give her all he could — H.A.Chippendale
— often used with up
persuaded … to put off whistling up the law — William Brandon
whistle up hypothetical vectors … to explain the facts for them — American Naturalist
b. : to dismiss by or as if by whistling
told him he might … whistle me off, save himself, and I would say no word of blame — Mary Johnston
that … historical happening cannot be whistled away — Times Literary Supplement
c. : to impel or influence by whistling
whistled himself out of the scrub and back onto the road — Stetson Kennedy
2.
a. : to utter or express in a whistle
whistle a tune
a group of reclining soldiery whistled appreciation each time they passed — Margery Sharp
quail whistle about us their spontaneous cries — Wallace Stevens
b. : to send or drive with a whistle
whistle a shot or two over his head — Alan Le May
broke off a switch and whistled it angrily through the air — D.C.Peattie
3. obsolete : to disclose confidentially : whisper
they dare speak felony, whistle treason — John Taylor
•
- whistle in the dark
III. transitive verb
: to charge (as a basketball or hockey player) with an infraction