a breathing defect of horses characterized by a high-pitched sound with each intake of air
Compare roaring (sense 6)
whistling in American English
(ˈhwɪslɪŋ; ˈwɪsɪŋ)
noun
1.
the act or sound of a person, animal, or thing that whistles
2.
shrill, noisy breathing by a horse, caused by a disorder of the air passages
Word origin
ME whistlinge < OE hwistlung
More idioms containing
whistling
someone is not just whistling Dixie
Examples of 'whistling' in a sentence
whistling
The glass was shattered so I had to stand in the rain and shout over the whistling gale.
Gash, Jonathan THE TARTAN RINGERS (2002)
She looked back from the bottom of the stairs, her mother was still in the same position, the kettle whistling madly in her ear.
Robert Wilson THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)
As he crossed the floor towards the departure lounge Jago was whistling softly.
Higgins, Jack A SEASON IN HELL (2002)
Word lists with
whistling
Animal diseases
All related terms of 'whistling'
siffle
to whistle
whistle
When you whistle or when you whistle a tune , you make a series of musical notes by forcing your breath out between your lips, or your teeth .
whistling swan
a white North American swan , Cygnus columbianus, with a black bill and straight neck
whistling in the dark
If you say that someone is whistling in the dark , you mean that they are trying to remain brave and convince themselves that the situation is not as bad as it seems .
dog-whistle
relating to the targeting of potentially controversial messages to specific voters while avoiding offending those voters with whom the message will not be popular
whistle for
to seek or expect in vain
whistle up
to call or summon (a person or animal) by whistling
wolf whistle
If someone wolf-whistles , they make a whistling sound with a short rising note and a longer falling note. Some people wolf-whistle to show that they find someone attractive .
someone is not just whistling Dixie
said to mean that someone is being honest or realistic in what they are saying and that they should therefore not be ignored