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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Whistle


WHISTLE, verb intransitive hwisl. [Latin , a whistle; allied to whisper.]

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 transitive

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 [Latin]

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, etc.

7. A call, such as sportsmen use to their dogs.