Showing results for "whistling"

• present participle of whistle.

whistling

American  

[hwis-ling, wis-] / ˈʰwɪs lɪŋ, ˈwɪs- /

noun

whistlings plural

1. the act of a person or thing that whistles.

2. the sound produced.

3. Veterinary Pathology. a form of roaring characterized by a peculiarly shrill sound.

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whistling British  

/ ˈwɪslɪŋ /

noun

1. vet science a breathing defect of horses characterized by a high-pitched sound with each intake of air Compare roaring

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• whistlings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of whistling

before 900; Middle English; Old English hwistlung. See whistle, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

whistling whistlings

DeChambeau reportedly stayed out on the driving range until after dark, at times whistling, humming and singing while hitting balls and offering reporters snacks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

There’s a perfectly non-racial explanation for all of the cat and dog whistling.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

“Orange County” is my particular favorite track; it feels light and upbeat with some whistling throughout — yet lyrically explores grief while also giving this feeling of hope in the darkness.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

“Investors have been whistling by the inflation graveyard and ignoring signals from the Treasury curve, as we’ve broken above 4.5% and on a trajectory to go even higher,” he added.

From MarketWatch ● May 18, 2026

But just then a rivet came whistling through the air.

From "I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919" by Lauren Tarshis

It rose flapping its wings and disappeared into the clouds, to a send-off of applause, whistlings, handkerchiefs, drumrolls, and the sprinkling of holy water.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Shoutings, bawlings, whistlings, and screamings were in full swing, and the lady paused for a moment, whispering to her companion, “Oh, let’s go back—I can’t stand this at any price.”

From Recollections of Old Liverpool by Nonagenarian, A

This was not the one, however, which we had heard during the night, for in the evening on which it was killed, we heard the whistlings of its companions.

From Perils and Captivity Comprising The sufferings of the Picard family after the shipwreck of the Medusa, in the year 1816; Narrative of the captivity of M. de Brisson, in the year 1785; Voyage of Madame Godin along the river of the Amazons, in the year 1770. by Maxwell, Patrick

Suddenly the roar swelled louder, and dismal shrieks and whistlings sounded in the ears.

From Hurricane Island by Watson, H. B. Marriott (Henry Brereton Marriott)

The wind was murmuring in the reeds, and the whistlings of aquatic fowl made a plaintive music.

From The Plowshare and the Sword A Tale of Old Quebec by Trevena, John