hissing

[his-ing]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hissing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of emitting a hiss.

the sound of a hiss.

Archaic. an occasion or object of scorn.

Origin of hissing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at hiss, -ing¹

hiss

[his]

verb (used without object)

to make or emit a sharp sound like that of the letter s prolonged, as a snake does, or as steam does when forced under pressure through a small opening.

to express disapproval or contempt by making this sound: The audience hissed when the actor forgot his lines.

verb (used with object)

to express disapproval of by hissing: The audience hissed the controversial play.

to silence or drive away by hissing (usually followed by away, down, etc.): They hissed down the author when he tried to speak.

to utter with a hiss.

noun

a hissing sound, especially one made in disapproval.

Origin of hiss

1350–1400; Middle English hissen; probably imitative; compare Old English hyscan to jeer at, rail (derivative of husc jeering; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German hosc)

Related formshiss·er, nounhiss·ing·ly, adverbout·hiss, verb (used with object)un·hissed, adjective

Synonyms for hiss

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hiss ON THESAURUS.COM

2, 4. boo, razz, heckle.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for hissing

spit, whisper, jeer, hoot, whistle, seethe, boo, wheeze, whirr, blow, revile, sibilate, disapprove, deride, decry, whiz, mock, rasp, damn, catcall

Examples from the Web for hissing

Contemporary Examples of hissing

CLAIRE: (hissing) Have you ever considered, even for a second, that what I do matters too?
Frank Underwood Will Not Tolerate Insubordination in This Olive Garden
Kelly Williams Brown
February 24, 2014
They make all kinds of calls and noises as we pass: slurps, hissing, barking, and even machine-gun sounds.
Egypt’s Sexual Harassment Epidemic
Sophia Jones, Erin Banco
June 27, 2012

Historical Examples of hissing

Mrs. Merton had undertaken the duties that appertain to the "hissing urn."
Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
He paced the chamber like a beast in a cage, hissing out the words in his anger.
Casanova's Homecoming
Arthur Schnitzler
Her hissing and sucking might have been a living gasp for breath.
The Cruise of the Dry Dock
T. S. Stribling
Then he flew up from the book with a hissing sound, like a radiant streak.
The Chinese Fairy Book
Various
In a moment the door was closed behind him, air was hissing into the lock again.
Salvage in Space
John Stewart Williamson

British Dictionary definitions for hissing

hiss

noun

a voiceless fricative sound like that of a prolonged s

such a sound uttered as an exclamation of derision, contempt, etc, esp by an audience or crowd

electronics receiver noise with a continuous spectrum, caused by thermal agitation, shot noise, etc

interjection

an exclamation of derision or disapproval

verb

(intr) to produce or utter a hiss

(tr) to express with a hiss, usually to indicate derision or anger

(tr) to show derision or anger towards (a speaker, performer, etc) by hissing

Derived Formshisser, noun

Word Origin for hiss

C14: of imitative origin

Hiss

noun

Alger. 1904–96, US government official: imprisoned (1950–54) for perjury in connection with alleged espionage activities

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hissing

late 14c., hissyng, of imitative origin (see hiss (v.)), but originally also "whistling." In both senses expressing opprobrium.

hiss

late 14c., of imitative origin. Johnson wrote, "it is remarkable, that this word cannot be pronounced without making the noise which it signifies." Related: Hissed; hissing.

hiss

1510s, from hiss (v.).