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Whistle vs Thistle - What's the difference?

whistle | thistle |

As nouns the difference between whistle and thistle

is that whistle is a device designed to be placed in the mouth in order, or driven by steam or otherwise, to make a whistling sound while thistle is any of several perennial composite plants, especially of genera cirsium'', ''carduus'', ''cynara or , having prickly leaves and showy flower heads with prickly bracts.

As a verb whistle

is (ambitransitive) to make a shrill, high-pitched sound by forcing air through the mouth to produce a whistling sound, restrictions to the flow of air are created using the teeth, tongue and lips.

whistle

Noun

(en noun)
  • A device designed to be placed in the mouth in order, or driven by steam or otherwise, to make a whistling sound.
  • An act of whistling.
  • A shrill, high-pitched sound made by whistling.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine.
  • Any high-pitched sound similar to the sound made by whistling.
  • the whistle of the wind in the trees
  • (Cockney rhyming slang) A suit (from whistle and flute ).
  • * 2005 , Wally Payne, A Minority of One: A Monkey's Tale Continued
  • We soldiers changed into our No.1 dress uniforms, Sid into his best whistle and we set off for the church.
  • The mouth and throat; so called as being the organs of whistling.
  • * Walton
  • Let's drink the other cup to wet our whistles .

    Derived terms

    * bells and whistles * * it's not the whistle that pulls the train * wet one's whistle * whistle-blower * whistle pig * whistle-stop * whistle walk

    Verb

    (whistl)
  • (ambitransitive) To make a shrill, high-pitched sound by forcing air through the mouth. To produce a whistling sound, restrictions to the flow of air are created using the teeth, tongue and lips.
  • Never whistle at a funeral.
    She was whistling a happy tune.
  • To move in such a way as to create a whistling sound.
  • A bullet whistled past.
  • To send, signal, or call by a whistle.
  • * Addison
  • He chanced to miss his dog; we stood still till he had whistled him up.

    Derived terms

    * whistle Dixie * whistle in the dark * whistle past the graveyard

    See also

    * (wikipedia "whistle")

    thistle

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any of several perennial composite plants, especially of genera Cirsium'', ''Carduus'', ''Cynara or , having prickly leaves and showy flower heads with prickly bracts.
  • * , Genesis 3:18:
  • Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field [...].
  • This plant seen as the national emblem of Scotland.
  • The Order of the Thistle, or membership thereof.
  • * 1978 , (Lawrence Durrell), Livia'', Faber & Faber 1992 (''Avignon Quintet ), p. 324:
  • Here's a passage which will please you: ‘It is said that when rich he twice refused the thistle .’

    Derived terms

    {{der3, blessed thistle , bull thistle , Canada thistle , carline thistle , globe thistle , marsh thistle , milk thistle , Russian thistle , sow thistle , spear thistle , star thistle , thistle butterfly , thistledown}}

    References

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    Anagrams

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