hiss

[his] /hɪs/
verb (used without object)
1.
to make or emit a sharp sound like that of the letter s prolonged, as a snake does, or as steam does when forced under pressure through a small opening.
2.
to express disapproval or contempt by making this sound:
The audience hissed when the actor forgot his lines.
verb (used with object)
3.
to express disapproval of by hissing:
The audience hissed the controversial play.
4.
to silence or drive away by hissing (usually followed by away, down, etc.):
They hissed down the author when he tried to speak.
5.
to utter with a hiss.
noun
6.
a hissing sound, especially one made in disapproval.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English hissen; probably imitative; compare Old English hyscan to jeer at, rail (derivative of husc jeering; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German hosc)
Related forms
hisser, noun
hissingly, adverb
outhiss, verb (used with object)
unhissed, adjective
Synonyms
2, 4. boo, razz, heckle.

Hiss

[his] /hɪs/
noun
1.
Alger, 1904–96, U.S. public official, accused of espionage 1948 and imprisoned for perjury 1950–54.
Examples from the web for hiss
  • There was also the much more compelling hide-and-hiss factor of two felines really not interested in having an outing in a crate.
  • The hiss was explosive and he turned his face from the acrid ammoniac steam.
  • Minus the filter, which erases low frequencies from the audio signal, the tracks were laced with a hectoring hiss.
  • Those explosions end with the hiss of new waterfalls and spilling ice shards.
  • Precious oxygen begins to hiss into the void of space.
  • Some users, who still enjoy sensitive and intact hearing, might detect a slight background hiss.
  • He let out a hiss and went limp, unable to speak or breathe.
  • We cheer the heroes as they rescue maidens in peril, and hiss the villains as they twirl their mustaches.
  • He folded back the hood and a geyser of white steam shot up with a hiss.
  • It would christen babies and make hoses hiss and fill space enough for couples on ocean liners to travel.
British Dictionary definitions for hiss

hiss

/hɪs/
noun
1.
a voiceless fricative sound like that of a prolonged s
2.
such a sound uttered as an exclamation of derision, contempt, etc, esp by an audience or crowd
3.
(electronics) receiver noise with a continuous spectrum, caused by thermal agitation, shot noise, etc
interjection
4.
an exclamation of derision or disapproval
verb
5.
(intransitive) to produce or utter a hiss
6.
(transitive) to express with a hiss, usually to indicate derision or anger
7.
(transitive) to show derision or anger towards (a speaker, performer, etc) by hissing
Derived Forms
hisser, noun
Word Origin
C14: of imitative origin

Hiss

/hɪs/
noun
1.
Alger. 1904–96, US government official: imprisoned (1950–54) for perjury in connection with alleged espionage activities
Word Origin and History for hiss
v.

late 14c., of imitative origin. Johnson wrote, "it is remarkable, that this word cannot be pronounced without making the noise which it signifies." Related: Hissed; hissing.

n.

1510s, from hiss (v.).

hiss in the Bible

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."