[syn: boo, hiss]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hiss \Hiss\, n.
1. A prolonged sound like that letter s, made by forcing out
the breath between the tongue and teeth, esp. as a token
of disapprobation or contempt.
[1913 Webster]
"Hiss" implies audible friction of breath
consonants. --H. Sweet.
[1913 Webster]
A dismal, universal hiss, the sound
Of public scorn. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. Any sound resembling that above described; as:
(a) The noise made by a serpent.
[1913 Webster]
But hiss for hiss returned with forked tongue.
--Milton.
(b) The note of a goose when irritated.
(c) The noise made by steam escaping through a narrow
orifice, or by water falling on a hot stove.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hiss \Hiss\ (h[i^]s). v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hissed (h[i^]st); p.
pr. & vb. n. Hissing.] [AS. hysian; prob. of imitative
origin; cf. LG. hissen, OD. hisschen.]
1. To make with the mouth a prolonged sound like that of the
letter s, by driving the breath between the tongue and the
teeth; to make with the mouth a sound like that made by a
goose or a snake when angered; esp., to make such a sound
as an expression of hatred, passion, or disapproval.
[1913 Webster]
The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee.
--Ezek. xxvii.
36.
[1913 Webster]
2. To make a similar noise by any means; to pass with a
sibilant sound; as, the arrow hissed as it flew.
[1913 Webster]
Shod with steel,
We hissed along the polished ice. --Wordsworth.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hiss \Hiss\, v. t.
1. To condemn or express contempt for by hissing.
[1913 Webster]
If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him,
according as he pleased and displeased them. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Malcolm. What is the newest grief?
Ros. That of an hour's age doth hiss the speaker.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To utter with a hissing sound.
[1913 Webster]
The long-necked geese of the world that are ever
hissing dispraise. --Tennyson.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
hiss
n 1: a fricative sound (especially as an expression of
disapproval); "the performers could not be heard over the
hissing of the audience" [syn: hiss, hissing,
hushing, fizzle, sibilation]
2: a cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt [syn:
boo, hoot, Bronx cheer, hiss, raspberry, razzing,
razz, snort, bird]
v 1: make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval [syn:
hiss, siss, sizz, sibilate]
2: move with a whooshing sound [syn: hiss, whoosh]
3: express or utter with a hiss [syn: hiss, sizz, siss,
sibilate]
4: show displeasure, as after a performance or speech [syn:
boo, hiss] [ant: acclaim, applaud, clap, spat]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
172 Moby Thesaurus words for "hiss":
Bronx cheer, aphonia, artificial voice, assibilate, assibilation,
bark, bawl, bellow, bird, blare, blat, blubber, boil, boil over,
boo, booing, boom, bray, breathe, broken speech, broken tones,
broken voice, bubble, bubble over, bubble up, burble, buzz, cackle,
catcall, chant, childish treble, chirp, choked voice, coo,
cracked voice, croak, crow, decry, deride, disparage, drawl,
dysarthria, dyslalia, dyslogia, dysphasia, dysphonia, dysphrasia,
effervesce, effervescence, effervescing, exclaim, falsetto,
ferment, fizz, fizzle, fizzling, flute, frication,
frictional rustling, gasp, give the bird, give the raspberry,
gnarl, growl, grumble, grunt, guggle, gurgle, harshness,
hawking voice, hissing, hoarseness, hoot, hush, hushing,
idioglossia, idiolalia, impairment of speech, jeer, keen, lilt,
lisp, lisping, loss of voice, mock, mumble, murmur, mutter,
muzzy speech, nasal tone, nasalization, pant, pipe, plop, pooh,
pooh-pooh, quaver, raspberry, razz, rhonchus, roar, rumble, scream,
screech, seethe, shake, shriek, shush, shushing, sibilance,
sibilate, sibilation, siffle, sigh, sigmatism, simmer, sing, siss,
sissing, sizz, sizzle, sizzling, snap, snarl, sneeze, sneezing,
sniff, sniffle, snore, snort, snuff, snuffle, sob, sparkle,
speech defect, speech impediment, spit, splutter, sputter, squall,
squash, squawk, squeal, squelch, squish, sternutation, stertor,
swish, taunt, the bird, thunder, tremor, trumpet, twang, wail,
warble, wheeze, whine, whish, whisper, whistle, whistle at,
whistling, white noise, whiz, whoosh, work, yap, yawp, yell, yelp,
zip
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:
Hiss
to express contempt (Job 27:23). The destruction of the temple
is thus spoken of (1 Kings 9:8). Zechariah (10:8) speaks of the
Lord gathering the house of Judah as it were with a hiss: "I
will hiss for them." This expression may be "derived from the
noise made to attract bees in hiving, or from the sound
naturally made to attract a person's attention."