subs. (common).—1. The throat, RED-LANE (q.v.). Hence TO WET (or WHET) ONE’S WHISTLE = to drink (see WET): Fr. s’affûter le sifflet.
1383. CHAUCER, The Canterbury Tales, ‘Reeves Tale.’
| As any jay she light was and jolyf; | |
| So was his joly WHISTLE WEL ywet. |
c. 1400. Towneley Mysteries, Pastores. Had she oones WETT HYR WHYSTYLL she couth syng fulle clere.
1530. PALSGRAVE, Langue Francoyse, 780. I WETE MY WHYSTELL, as good drinkers do. Je crocque la pie. Wyll you WETE YOUR WHYSTELL.
1617. FLETCHER, The Mad Lover, ii. My WHISTLE once WET I’ll pipe. Ibid. (1622), Beggar’s Bush, iii. 1. Give the boy some drink there! Piper, WHET YOUR WHISTLE.
1653. WALTON, The Compleat Angler, iii. Let’s ev’n say grace, and turn to the fire, drink the other cup to WET OUR WHISTLES, and so sing away all sad thoughts.
1788. BURNS, Epistle to Hugh Parker.
| But till we meet and WEET OUR WHISTLE, | |
| Tak this excuse for nae epistle. |
2. (common).—A whim, fancy, caprice; whence TO PAY FOR ONE’S WHISTLE = to pay high (or dearly). [The allusion is to a story told (1779) by Dr. Franklin (Works [1836], II. 182) of his nephew, who set his mind on a common whistle, which he bought of a boy for four times its value.]
1876. G. ELIOT, Daniel Deronda, xxxv. I wouldn’t destroy any old bits, but that notion of reproducing the old is a mistake, I think; at least, if a man likes to do it, he must PAY FOR HIS WHISTLE.
Verb (old).—To inform.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxxiii. I kept aye between him and her for fear she had WHISTLED.
TO WHISTLE AND RIDE, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To work and talk.
PHRASES. TO GO WHISTLE = to go to the deuce, to be discomfited or disappointed; TO WHISTLE FOR A WIND = (1) old salts of a superstitious turn of mind will WHISTLE for a breeze during a calm: during a storm they would not dream of so doing: hence TO WHISTLE FOR = to stand small chance of getting; (2) = a jocular offer of aid to one long in commencing to urinate; AT ONE’S WHISTLE = at call; WORTH THE WHISTLE = worth notice, attention, or a call; TO WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND = to talk for talking’s sake, to talk idly, or to no purpose; AS CLEAN AS A WHISTLE = NEAT (q.v.), SLICK (q.v.).
1547. HEYWOOD, Dialogues. It’s a poor dog that is not worth the WHISTLING.
1604. SHAKESPEARE, Winter’s Tale, iv. 4. 715. This being done, let the law GO WHISTLE. Ibid. (1605), King Lear, iv. 2. I have been WORTH THE WHISTLE.
c. 1611. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Two Noble Kinsmen, iii. 5. Ger. Here’s a woman wanting. Count. We may go WHISTLE; all the fat’s i’ the fire.
1741. SHENSTONE, The Poet and the Dun. Your fame is secure—bid the critics GO WHISTLE.
1760. C. JOHNSTONE, Chrysal, ii. 184. ‘Do you not desire to be free?’ ‘Desire! aye, that I do! but I may WHISTLE FOR that wind long enough before it will blow.’
1772. BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 214.
| She went and fetch’d each nag his bridle, | |
| Then hung the reins upon her wrist, | |
| And WHISTLED whilst the horses pist. |
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 144. If an angel from heaven were to whisper wisdom in one ear, and your cousin her mortal chit-chat in the other, I am afraid the angel might WHISTLE FOR an audience.
1849–61. MACAULAY, The History of England, xiii. Ready AT HIS WHISTLE to array themselves round him in arms against the commander in chief.
1863. GASKELL, Sylvia’s Lovers, iv. If Measter Cholmley don’t do what I ax him, he may GO WHISTLE for my vote, he may.
1901. W. S. WALKER, In the Blood, 161. ‘Well, I will,’ replied Jim, ‘when I’ve WET MY WHISTLE.’
