An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A whistling sound of descending pitch picked up by radio telescopes under certain circumstances. Whistlers are caused by radio waves from distant lightening flashes, which follow the lines of force of the Earth’s magnetic field and are reflected back to Earth by the → ionosphere.

Etymology (EN): From M.E. whistler,; O.E. hwistlere, from hwistlian “whistle.”

Etymology (PE): Sutzani “whistling,” from <isut “whistle,” probably onomatopoeia + zani verbal noun from zadan “to make, to do,” originally “to strike, beat; to do; to play an instrument” (Mid.Pers. zatan, žatan; O.Pers./Av. jan-, gan- “to strike, hit, smite, kill” (jantar- “smiter”); cf.
Skt. han- “to strike, beat” (hantar- “smiter, killer”);
Gk. theinein “to strike;” L. fendere “to strike, push;” Gmc. *gundjo “war, battle;” PIE *g^when- “to strike, kill”).