hissing

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.

to express disapproval or contempt by making this sound: The audience hissed when the actor forgot his lines.

verb (used with object)

to express disapproval of by hissing: The audience hissed the controversial play.

to silence or drive away by hissing (usually followed by away, down, etc.): They hissed down the author when he tried to speak.

to utter with a hiss.

noun

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

hiss·er, noun

hiss·ing·ly, adverb

out·hiss, verb (used with object)

un·hissed, adjective

Synonyms
2, 4. boo, razz, heckle.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To hissing

00:10

Hissing is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

hiss (hɪs)

—n
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

—*interj*
4.	an exclamation of derision or disapproval

—vb
5.	(intr) to produce or utter a hiss
6.	(tr) to express with a hiss, usually to indicate derision or anger
7.	(tr) to show derision or anger towards (a speaker, performer, etc) by hissing

[C14: of imitative origin]

'hisser

—n

Hiss (hɪs)

—n
	Alger. 1904--96, US government official: imprisoned (1950--54) for perjury in connection with alleged espionage activities

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

hissing

1382, hissyng, of imitative origin, but originally also "whistling." In both senses expressing opprobrium. Of hiss, Johnson wrote, "it is remarkable, that this word cannot be pronounced without making the noise which it signifies."

Easton

Bible Dictionary

Hiss definition

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."

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Example sentences

If you smell gas or hear hissing, open a window, leave quickly and call the gas

company from a safe place.

Check for gas leaks--If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a

window and quickly leave the building.

If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly

leave the building.

Exhale through the mouth with the lips pursed, making a hissing sound.

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Matching Quote

"the bare eyes were before me
And the hissing hair,
Held up at a window, seen through a door.
The stiff bald eyes, the serpents on the forehead
Formed in the air."

-Louise Bogan