whistle

whis•tle

[[t]ˈ(h)wɪs əl, ˈwɪs-[/t]] v. -tled, -tling, n.

1) to make a high clear musical sound or a series of such sounds by forcing the breath through puckered lips or through the teeth

2) to produce sounds resembling a whistle, as by blowing on some device

3) to emit a call like a whistle:

birds whistling in the shrubbery[/ex]

4) to produce a similar sound when actuated by steam or the like:

The teapot whistles[/ex]

5) to move with a whistling sound, as a bullet or the wind

6) to produce by whistling:

to whistle a tune[/ex]

7) to call, direct, or signal by or as if by whistling:

He whistled his dog over[/ex]

8) to send with a whistling or whizzing sound

9) an instrument for producing whistling sounds by various means, as by the breath through a small tin tube or through a device with an air chamber containing a small ball

10) a sound produced by whistling

•

- blow the whistle blow the whistle on wet one's whistle whistle Dixie whistle in the dark

Etymology: bef. 950; ME; OE hwistlian; akin to ON hvīsla to whistle, hviskra to whisper whis′tle•a•ble, adj.