whistle

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

noun the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
noun the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle
noun a small wind instrument that produces a whistling sound by blowing into it

From Middle English whistel, whistil, whistle, from Old English hwistle, from the verb (see below).

McLeod grasped the whistle cord. — The Boy Scouts Book of Campfire Stories, Unknown
My brother Jery whistles and dances. — The Expedition of Humphry Clinker, T. (Tobias) Smollett
Holmes gave a whistle of surprise. — His last bow : $b Some later reminiscences of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle

whistling

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