wolf-whistle - meaning and definition. What is wolf-whistle
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What (who) is wolf-whistle - definition

WHISTLED SOUND MADE TO SHOW HIGH INTEREST OR APPROVAL
Wolf Whistle; Wolf-whistle; Wolf whistle; Wolf whistling; Finger whistling; Wolf-whistled
  • In Spanish, the wolf whistle sound is written as 'fiu fiu'.

wolf-whistle         
also wolf whistle (wolf-whistles, wolf-whistling, wolf-whistled)
If someone wolf-whistles, they make a whistling sound with a short rising note and a longer falling note. Some men wolf-whistle at a woman to show that they think she is attractive, and some women find this offensive.
They wolf-whistled at me, and I was so embarrassed I tripped up.
VERB: V at n, also V
Wolf whistle is also a noun.
Her dancing brought loud cheers, wolf whistles and applause.
N-COUNT
Wolf-whistling         
A wolf whistle is a distinctive two-note glissando whistled sound made to show high interest in or approval of something or someone, especially at someone viewed as physically or sexually attractive. Today, a wolf whistle directed at a person is sometimes considered a precursor to sexual harassment, or a form of sexual harassment in itself.
wolf whistle         
¦ noun a whistle with a rising and falling pitch, used to express sexual attraction or admiration.
¦ verb (wolf-whistle) whistle in such a way at.

Wikipedia

Wolf-whistling

A wolf whistle is a distinctive two-note glissando whistled sound made to show high interest in or approval of something or someone, especially at someone viewed as physically or sexually attractive. Today, a wolf whistle directed at a person is sometimes considered a precursor to sexual harassment, or a form of sexual harassment in itself.

The name comes from the Wolf character in the popular 1943 Tex Avery cartoon Red Hot Riding Hood who whistles in this way at the sexy female character Red. He whistles at her in several other subsequent cartoons. The term appears in North American newspapers as early as 1943. It appears in British newspapers from 1949 onwards.

According to Adam Edwards of Daily Express, the wolf whistle originates from the navy General Call made with a boatswain's pipe. The General Call is made on a ship to get the attention of all hands for an announcement. Sailors in harbour would whistle the General Call upon seeing an attractive woman to draw fellow sailors' attention to her. It was eventually picked up by passers-by, not knowing the real meaning of the whistle, and passed on. During a 2015 broadcast of A Way with Words, doubt was cast upon this explanation by lexicographer Grant Barrett, who noted that it was very thinly supported. The Turn To Call is far closer to the wolf whistle than the General Call.

The standard sound for a coin insertion for the Bally Manufacturing pinball machine "Playboy" (featuring iconography from Playboy magazine) is the wolf whistle.

Examples of use of wolf-whistle
1. A caller from her home town of Neka to Radio Fadr said men used to wolf–whistle at her.
2. Banned: Builders will have to keep quiet when a female passes the building site A Wimpey spokeswoman said: "The memo has come from the company‘s sales and marketing director, Richard Goad, who believes that given the sophisticated buyer of today and the quality of the homes for sale the wolf–whistle is outdated and should be a thing of the past." Mr Goad said: "In the 21st century the wolf whistle is out of place.
3. And I commend them for not doing that,‘‘ says Joyce Chiles, the black district attorney who directed the case in which the grand jury declined to charge 73–year–old Carolyn Bryant Donham – the object of Till‘s infamous wolf whistle.
4. Sales and marketing director Richard Goad told staff in a memo that Bristol builders would not be able to wolf–whistle on any of the city‘s six sites from 'am tomorrow.
5. Presenting them with a pound, he told them they could have their cake and eat it, and promised them a mention in his diaries.For once you can wolf–whistle at the builder.