Whinge

Pronunciation

• enPR: wÄ­nj, IPA: /wɪndÊ’/
• enPR: hwÄ­nj, IPA: /ʍɪndÊ’/
• Rhymes: -ɪndÊ’

Alternative forms

• winge
• quhynge Scotland, obsolete

Origin

From Middle English whinsen, from Old English hwinsian ("to whine"), from Proto-Germanic *hwinisōną ("to whine"), from Proto-Germanic *hwīnaną ("to whizz, rush, swoosh, whine, hiss"), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱwey- ("to hiss, whistle, whisper"). Cognate with German winseln ("to whine, whimper").

Full definition of whinge

Noun

1. (UK, AU, NZ) A cry.
2. (UK, AU, NZ) A complaint.

Verb

1. (UK, AU, NZ) To complain, especially in an annoying or persistent manner.
2. (UK, AU, NZ) To whine.
• 1992, Sky Phillips, Secret mission to Melbourne, November, 1941‎, Mostly, they were wingeing about the lousy cook and the same thing served too often
• 1993, Michael Fisher, The Nightmare Man‎, His wife will winge her bloody head off, but Nev will come good.
• 2002, Diana Wynne Jones, A Tale of Time City‎, "I'm miserable," Sam proclaimed, plodding behind with his shoelace flapping. "Nobody ever gives me butter-pies when I need them."
  "Shut up," said Jonathan. "Stop wingeing."
• 2012, John Lyons, The Australian, 1st Dec issue, Action stations as sea giants stay vigilant on the frontline"You know the problem these days with young people? Get them to carry a 500-pound bomb and within 30 seconds they're making noises," he says, imitating a whingeing sound.

Synonyms

Anagrams

• hewing