(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, to emit a similar sound, or series of notes, from the mouth
or beak, as birds.
(v. i.) To make a shrill sound with a wind or steam instrument,
somewhat like that made with the lips; to blow a sharp, shrill tone.
(v. i.) To sound shrill, or like a pipe; to make a sharp,
shrill sound; as, a bullet whistles through the air.
(v. t.) To form, utter, or modulate by whistling; as, to
whistle a tune or an air.
(v. t.) To send, signal, or call by a whistle.
(v. i.) 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.
(v. i.) 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.
(v. i.) 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).
(v. i.) The mouth and throat; -- so called as being the organs
of whistling.
