-whin-

n. (Bot.) The English bilberry; -- so called because it grows on moors among the whins, or furze. Dr. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called because it frequents whins. ] (Zool.) A small warbler (Pratincola rubetra) common in Europe; -- called also whinchacker, whincheck, whin-clocharet. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To utter or express plaintively, or in a mean, unmanly way; as, to whine out an excuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Whined p. pr. & vb. n. Whining. ] [ OE. whinen, AS. hwīnan to make a whistling, whizzing sound; akin to Icel. hvīna, Sw. hvina, Dan. hvine, and probably to G. wiehern to neigh, OHG. wihōn, hweijōn; perhaps of imitative origin. Cf. Whinny, v. i. ] To utter a plaintive cry, as some animals; to moan with a childish noise; to complain, or to tell of sorrow, distress, or the like, in a plaintive, nasal tone; hence, to complain or to beg in a mean, unmanly way; to moan basely. “Whining plovers.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The hounds were . . . staying their coming, but with a whining accent, craving liberty. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dost thou come here to whine? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A plaintive tone; the nasal, childish tone of mean complaint; mean or affected complaint. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, whines. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To whine. [ Scot. ] Burns. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Whinyard. ] A kind of hanger or sword used as a knife at meals and as a weapon. [ Scot. & Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The chief acknowledged that he had corrected her with his whinger. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]