An instrument that produces, by having air (or steam) blown through it, a shrill sound. Air-whistles were made in ornamental form from the 16th century, to be hung as a pendant or from a girdle orchatelaine (sometimes used for calling domestics), and are shown in Renaissance paintings andDürer engravings.Some were made of gold or silver, with chasing orenamelled decoration, and some carved of boxwood. One made for Henry VIII, set in a finger ring, was decorated withdiamonds and ruby. Examples were hung with silver bell to ward off the 'evil eye', and some were in the form of acase to hold toothpicks and ear-picks.