Origin and history of whistle

Middle English whistlen, "produce a high, shrill or musical kind of sound by forcing the breath through contracted lips," from Old English hwistlian "to whistle," from Proto-Germanic *hwis-, of imitative origin (source also of Old Norse hvisla "to whisper," Danish hvisle "to hiss;" see whisper (v.)).

Used also in Middle English of the hissing of serpents; in 17c. it also could mean "whisper." Transitive use is attested from late 15c. Related: Whistled; whistling.

Whistling as a signal of condemnation or disapproval is attestedf by late 14c., where it translates Latin sibilum "hissing." As an indication of approval or flattery, by early 15c. At modern public events, often an expression of support or encouragement in U.S. but often derisive in Britain.

To go whistle "go and do what you will, go to the devil" is by mid-15c. To whistle for (with small prospect of getting) is perhaps from nautical whistling for a wind, an old sailor's superstition during a calm. "Such men will not whistle during a storm" [Century Dictionary].

To whistle in the dark "put on a brave face" is by 1939. To whistle "Dixie" is noted by 1870s as a common pastime in the South, to express good feeling or drive away gloom or show off skill in whistling, or sometimes to express post-Civil War political sentiment. Pet birds were trained to whistle it. A 1909 article in the Boston Evening Transcript (considering political aspects) reports, "To the majority of the people of the United States "Dixie" is a good singable tune ...."

"tubular musical instrument sounded by blowing," Old English hwistle (see whistle (v.)). The meaning "sound formed by pursing the lips and blowing" is from mid-15c.

To wet one's whistle "take a drink" (late 14c.) originally may have referred to pipes, or be an allusion to the throat as a sort of pipe. Sometimes also whet one's whistle, as though from whet (v.).

The phrase clean as a whistle is recorded from 1878. The railroad whistle-stop (at which trains stop only if the engineer hears a signal from the station) is recorded by 1925.