Entry revised for OED Online

wolf-whistle

DRAFT REVISION Apr. 2007

colloq.

[f. WOLF n. 5c + WHISTLE n. 3.]

A distinctive whistle from a man expressing sexual admiration for a woman; also transf.

1944 Fresno (Calif.) Bee 6 Feb. 10C/1 A group of Fulton Street  'scientists' report that at last they have identified and isolated the female version of the wolf whistle—that often heard call used by men of the armed forces when their trail crosses that of the opposite sex.

1953 N. BALCHIN Sundry Creditors 46 Some vulgar female person let out a low wolf-whistle as she passed him. 1958 Daily Express 13 Mar. 8/5 She heard one kid give a wolf whistle, and his chum exclaim: ‘Coo, what a smashing car!’ 1960 A. KIMMINS Lugs O'Leary i. 11 They passed the pretty probationer. Lugs gave her a low wolf whistle. 1971 New Scientist 29 Apr. 246/1 A young housewife..recently asked for a reduction in the rates of her residence because of nuisance from wolf-whistles. 1980 ‘T. HINDE’ Daymare vi. 61 Bob Smiles whistles at him..a hideous wolf-whistle.

Hence as v., to utter a wolf-whistle (at); wolf-whistling vbl. n. and ppl. a.

1955 Sun (Baltimore) 2 Sept. 1/5 The Governor of Mississippi today called for a complete investigation of the kidnap-killing of a Negro youth who allegedly wolf-whistled at a white woman. 1958 L. LITTLE Dear Boys 222 They had their heads and shoulders hanging dangerously out of the windows [of a coach], wolf-whistling the odd bints on the pavements. 1958 Times 2 Sept. 11/7 Surrounded as I am by thousands of barking dogs, wailing cats, and wolf-whistling budgerigars. 1961 WODEHOUSE Ice in Bedroom 41 Dolly Molloy unquestionably took the eye... Wolf-whisting is of course prohibited in the lobby of Barribault's Hotel so none of those present attempted this form of homage. 1976 J. GRENFELL Joyce Grenfell requests the Pleasure i. 17 An American sailor wolf-whistled at her. 1981 G. PETRIE Tondeau of Chartres i. 19 Julie and Elaine took their bows to a cacophony of wolf-whistling.