Dictionary entry

Whine

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Whine (?), 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.

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

Dost thou come here to whine? Shak.