whistle

n. [ AS. hwistle a pipe, flute, whistle. See Whistle, v. i. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Might we but hear
The folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes, . . .
Or whistle from the lodge. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The countryman could not forbear smiling, . . . and by that means lost his whistle. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

They fear his whistle, and forsake the seas. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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). [ 1913 Webster ]

The bells she jingled, and the whistle blew. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The mouth and throat; -- so called as being the organs of whistling. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

So was her jolly whistle well ywet. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let's drink the other cup to wet our whistles. Walton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whistle duck (Zool.), the American golden-eye. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. 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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The weary plowman leaves the task of day,
And, trudging homeward, whistles on the way. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To sound shrill, or like a pipe; to make a sharp, shrill sound; as, a bullet whistles through the air. [ 1913 Webster ]

The wild winds whistle, and the billows roar. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, to whistle a tune or an air. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To send, signal, or call by a whistle. [ 1913 Webster ]

He chanced to miss his dog; we stood still till he had whistled him up. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I 'ld whistle her off, and let her down the wind
To prey at fortune. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A gossat, or rockling; -- called also whistler, three-bearded rockling, sea loach, and sorghe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. hwistlere. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. One who, or that which, whistles, or produces or a whistling sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) (a) The ring ousel. (b) The widgeon. [ Prov. Eng. ] (c) The golden-eye. (d) The golden plover and the gray plover. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) The hoary, or northern, marmot (Arctomys pruinosus). [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) The whistlefish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The American golden-eye. [ 1913 Webster ]