Whistle — Defs

01 v. i. 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, t…

imp. & p. p. Whistled; p. pr. & vb. n. Whistling

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.

02 v. t. To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, to whistle a tune or an air.

1.
To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, to whistle a tune or an air.
2.
To send, signal, or call by a whistle.
“He chanced to miss his dog; we stood still till he had whistled him up.” — Addison.

“I 'ld whistle her off, and let her down the wind To prey at fortune.” — Shak.

Phrases & compounds

To whistle off — To dismiss by a whistle; -- a term in hawking.

03 n. 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…

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 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; as, a child's whistle; a boatswain's whistle; a steam whistle (see Steam whistle, under Steam). See: Steam
“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.

Phrases & compounds

Whistle duck — the American golden-eye.