Dog-Whistle
/ˈdɔɡˌwɪsəl/noun
A coded expression understood by a particular group but seemingly innocuous to others.
Did you know?The political sense developed from the device’s ultrasonic signal: dogs could hear the message, while nearby humans could not.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
Old English
docga
“A dog; the word’s ultimate origin is uncertain.”
Old English
Old English
hwistlian
“To whistle or make a sharp, high-pitched sound.”
Middle English
English
dogge
“Dog; the later form that developed into modern English dog.”
19th Century
English
dog whistle
“A whistle producing sounds audible to dogs but generally beyond ordinary human hearing.”
20th Century
English
dog-whistle
“A metaphor for a message perceptible to a select audience but hidden from others.”
Modern English
English
dog-whistle
“Coded language, especially political language, carrying a concealed appeal to a particular group.”