whistle



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Whistle \Whis"tle\, v. t.
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, to whistle a
      tune or an air.
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   2. To send, signal, or call by a whistle.
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            He chanced to miss his dog; we stood still till he
            had whistled him up.                  --Addison.
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   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.
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                I 'ld whistle her off, and let her down the wind
                To prey at fortune.               --Shak.
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   Note: "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.
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.



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Whistle \Whis"tle\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Whistled; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Whistling.] [AS. hwistlian; akin to Sw. hvissla, Dan.
   hvisle, Icel. hv[imac]sla to whisper, and E. whisper.
   [root]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.
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            The weary plowman leaves the task of day,
            And, trudging homeward, whistles on the way. --Gay.
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   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.
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   3. To sound shrill, or like a pipe; to make a sharp, shrill
      sound; as, a bullet whistles through the air.
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            The wild winds whistle, and the billows roar.
                                                  --Pope.
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.



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Whistle \Whis"tle\, 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.
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            The countryman could not forbear smiling, . . . and
            by that means lost his whistle.       --Spectator.
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            They fear his whistle, and forsake the seas.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   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.
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   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).
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            The bells she jingled, and the whistle blew. --Pope.
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   4. The mouth and throat; -- so called as being the organs of
      whistling. [Colloq.]
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            So was her jolly whistle well ywet.   --Chaucer.
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            Let's drink the other cup to wet our whistles.
                                                  --Walton.
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   Whistle duck (Zool.), the American golden-eye.
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