Webster's English Dictionary

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sibilant

1. sib.i.lant \'sib-*-l*nt\ aj [L sibilant-, sibilans, prp. of sibilare to 
   hiss, whistle, of] imit. origin : having, containing, or producing the 
   sound of or a sound resembling tha t of the s or the sh in sash {a ~ 
   affricate} {a ~ snake} - sib.i.lant.ly av
2. sibilant n : a sibilant speech sound (as English /s/, /z  -, /sh/, /zh/, 
   /ch(=tsh)/, or /j(=dzh)/)