Main Entry:

¹sib·i·lant

Pronunciation:

\ˈsi-bə-lənt\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Latin sibilant-, sibilans, present participle of sibilare to hiss, whistle, of imitative origin

Date:

1669

: having, containing, or producing the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash <a sibilant affricate> <a sibilant snake>

— sib·i·lant·ly adverb