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wolf-whistle
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SECOND EDITION 1989
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colloq.
[f. WOLF n. 5c + WHISTLE n. 3.]
A distinctive whistle from a man expressing sexual admiration for a woman; also transf.
1952 Time 21 Jan. 29/3 No one took exception to U.S.N. wolf-whistles at the señoritas.
1953 N. B
ALCHIN 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. K
IMMINS 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. H
INDE
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. L
ITTLE 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. G
RENFELL 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.