"having a hissing sound," 1660s, from Latin sibilantem (nominative sibilans), present participle of sibilare "to hiss, whistle," which is perhaps of imitative origin (compare Greek sizein "to hiss," Lettish sikt "to hiss," Old Church Slavonic svistati "to hiss, whistle"). Related: Sibilance; sibilation (1620s).
"speech sound having a hissing effect," 1772, from sibilant (adj.). Middle English had sibilatour "one who hisses or whistles" (mid-15c., from Medieval Latin); sibillus "hissing or whistling sensation in the ear" (late 14c.).
updated on September 25, 2022