whistle stop

¹

noun

1. a small, unimportant town, especially one along a railroad line.
2. a short talk from the rear platform of a train, especially during a political campaign.
3. a brief appearance, single performance, or the like, in a small town, as during a political campaign or theatrical tour.

whistle-stop

²

[ hwis-uhl-stop, wis- ]

verb (used without object)

, whis·tle-stopped, whis·tle-stop·ping.

1. to campaign for political office by traveling around the country, originally by train, stopping at small communities to address voters.
2. to take a trip consisting of several brief, usually overnight, stops.

adjective

1. occurring at a whistle stop; consisting of whistle stops:

   a whistle-stop speech; a whistle-stop tour of the Northwest.

whistle stop

noun

1. 1. a minor railway station where trains stop only on signal
   2. a small town having such a station
2. 1. a brief appearance in a town, esp by a political candidate to make a speech, shake hands, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      a whistle-stop tour

verb

1. intr to campaign for office by visiting many small towns to give short speeches

Word History and Origins

Origin of whistle stop¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Origin of whistle stop²

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Nobody had to explain to him that the two Gestapo agents had boarded the train at that whistle stop.

From Project Gutenberg

Seventy-five miles south of Chicago there is a whistle-stop called Shipmont.

From Project Gutenberg

Lansdale was too small even to be called a "whistle stop," because no trains came near it.

From Project Gutenberg

Why should he hang around this whistle stop for a wasted week-end, holding kitchen conversations with the unmighty living?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• barnstorm
• lobby
• politick
• stump