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Glite Dictionary
pennywhistle

pennywhistle

1 7.4
A small metal flute used to play simple folk tunes
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛniˌwɪsəl/
translation icon : pito de lata
  • Also nice bamboo spoons for rhythm, and a pennywhistle and some harmonicas, but those are easier to hide.

Examples

  • The musician played a lively tune on his pennywhistle at the folk festival.

  • [PENNYWHISTLE]

    Trolls World Tour (2020)

  • "Not your ordinary pennywhistle," agreed Molly, chuckling.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • - [pennywhistle blows]

    Sisters (1973)

  • - [pennywhistle blows]

    Sisters (1973)

  • - [pennywhistle blows]

    Sisters (1973)

  • - [pennywhistle blows]

    Sisters (1973)

  • [pennywhistle blows]

    Sisters (1973)

  • St. Catherine's, St. Lucia's, Pennywhistle, Argus, and now Rolling Meadows.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Pennywhistle music, a hearty fire in the hearth, fog, fairytales and myths, all the voices of the birds in the morning in the blackberry bramble and loquat.

    Blog text (16)

Synonyms

whistle
vspennywhistle
  • UK
22 2.0

A small simple flute used in folk music

is the same basic instrument but often used more broadly in wording
tin whistle
vspennywhistle
1 4.2

A small simple metal flute that you play by blowing used in folk music

is the identical instrument but known by a different common name
fipple flute
vspennywhistle
  • Specialized
9.9

A simple wind instrument like a recorder that you blow into

is the smaller, inexpensive folk metal form rather than the general technical class

How Easy

pennywhistle
1 7.4
recorder
7 3.2
flute
75 1.5
oboe
13 5.0

Surface Forms

pennywhistle singular
pennywhistles plural

Morphology

pennywhistle = penny + whistle (transparent) = penny + whistle

A straightforward compound of 'penny' + 'whistle' meaning a small/inexpensive whistle; learners who know both components can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Pennywhistle comes from the simple words penny ('a small coin' and used to mean 'cheap') and whistle ('to make a high sound'). It was a small, cheap flute you could buy for a penny, so the name helps you remember it is a tiny, inexpensive whistle-like instrument often used in folk music.