whistling

American  

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

noun

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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of whistling

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

Example Sentences

At the same time, they create a high pitched sound by whistling inside the larynx.

From Science Daily • Feb. 25, 2026

Woodstock gets a solo moment too, whistling on Dog Marley’s “Three Little Birds,” set to a perfect one drop beat as Charlie Brown spirals out in a chicken suit while rubber chickens sway.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

"Heavy rain is pouring now, and I can hear the wind whistling."

From Barron's • Nov. 9, 2025

“People are sort of whistling past the graveyard of some real risks out there for the economy,” said Dean Smith, chief strategist at FolioBeyond.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 27, 2025

Jack had made it for her birthday and taught her to cast the line in a whistling arc—the best part of fishing, Nim thought.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr