whistler

UK: /ˈwɪslə/ US: (hwis′lər, wis′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

whis•tler  (hwis′lər, wis′-), n. 

1. a person or thing that whistles.
2. something that makes a sound like a whistle:
   The windstorm was a 60-mile-an-hour whistler.
3. Birds any of various birds whose wings whistle in flight, esp. the goldeneye.
4. Birds thickhead (def. 2).
5. Mammals a large marmot, Marmota caligata, of mountainous northwestern North America, closely related to the woodchuck.
6. Veterinary Diseases a horse afflicted with whistling.
7. Astronomy [Radio.] a whistling sound heard on a radio, a type of interference caused by distant lightning.

• bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English hwistlere. See whistle, -er¹

Whis•tler  (hwis′lər, wis′-), n. 

James (Abbott) McNeill  (mək nēl′), 1834–1903, U.S. painter and etcher, in France and England after 1855. Whis•tle•ri•an  (hwis lēr′ē ən, wis-), adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

whistler / ˈwɪslə/ noun

1. a person or thing that whistles
2. an atmospheric disturbance picked up by radio receivers, characterized by a whistling sound of decreasing pitch. It is caused by the electromagnetic radiation produced by lightning
3. any of various birds having a whistling call, such as certain Australian flycatchers and the goldeneye
   See also thickhead2
4. any of various North American marmots of the genus Marmota, esp M. caligata (hoary marmot)
5. a horse affected with an abnormal respiratory noise, resembling whistling
6. a referee

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

whis•tle /ˈhwɪsəl, ˈwɪs-/   v., -tled, -tling, n. 
v. 

1. to make a high, clear sound by forcing the breath through stretched lips or through the teeth: [no object]
   He whistled happily to himself.
   [~ + object]
   He whistled a happy tune.
2. to produce a sound or call resembling a whistle:
   [no object] The birds were whistling in the trees.
3. to signal or call for by or as if by whistling: [no object;  (~ + for + object) ]
   He whistled for her to come down and see him.
   [~ + object]
   She whistled her dog to her side.
4. [no object] to move with a whistling sound, as a bullet.

n. [countable]

5. an instrument for producing whistling sounds:
   The police officer blew her whistle.
6. a whistling sound.

Idioms

7. Idioms blow the whistle, [blow + the + ~ + on + object] to expose crime or other wrongdoing:
   The accountants blew the whistle on the embezzlers.
8. Idioms wet one's whistle, to take a drink.
9. Idioms whistle in the dark, [no object] to try to remain brave by or as if by whistling.

whis•tler, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

whis•tle  (hwis′əl, wis′-), v., -tled, -tling, n. 
v.i. 

1. to make a clear musical sound, a series of such sounds, or a high-pitched, warbling sound by the forcible expulsion of the breath through a small opening formed by contracting the lips, or through the teeth, with the aid of the tongue.
2. to make such a sound or series of sounds otherwise, as by blowing on some device.
3. to emit similar sounds from the mouth, as birds do.
4. (of a device) to produce a similar sound when actuated by steam or the like:
   This teakettle whistles when it boils.
5. to move, go, pass, etc., with a whistling or whizzing sound, as a bullet or the wind.

v.t. 

6. to produce by whistling:
   to whistle a tune.
7. to call, direct, or signal by or as by whistling:
   He whistled his dog over.
8. to send with a whistling or whizzing sound.
9. whistle for, to demand or expect without success:
   After promising to pay, he told us we could whistle for our money.
10. whistle in the dark, to attempt to summon up one's courage or optimism in a difficult situation:
    He says his business will improve next year, but he's probably just whistling in the dark.

n. 

11. an instrument for producing whistling sounds by means of the breath, steam, etc., as a small wooden or tin tube, a pipe, or a similar device with an air chamber containing a small ball that oscillates when air is forced through an opening, producing a high-pitched, warbling tone.
12. a sound produced by whistling:
    a prolonged whistle of astonishment.
13. a simple fipple flute.
14. blow the whistle, to expose the existence of mischief or wrongdoing:
    The agent was taking bribes until someone finally blew the whistle.
15. blow the whistle on:
    • to bring a stop to;
      halt:
      Congress has blown the whistle on all unnecessary expenditures for the program.
    • to expose (wrongdoing or wrongdoers):
      to blow the whistle on corruption in high places.
16. Informal Terms wet one's whistle, to take a drink.

• bef. 950; (verb, verbal) Middle English whistlen, Old English hwistlian; akin to Old Norse hvīsla to whistle, hviskra to whisper; see whine; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English hwistle instrument, akin to the verb, verbal

whis′tle•a•ble, adj.