shushy

English

Etymology

shush +‎ -y

Interjection

shushy

1. an instruction to be quiet; hush.
   • 2006, C. Owens, The Hacksaw, the Rose & the Parthenon Parrot, page 124:

     The Ghost feigned concern and put his hand over his mouth, “Oooh, shushy shushy, no word from me."

   • 2014, David Watson, Flight Path & Undercarriage:

     Oh baby shushy shushy it's coldy and my legs are hurty and I need a ciggy and I ain't got one in my / bag

   • 2018, Karin Tabke, Naughty List:

     “Shushy, little baby,” Kim tried to soothe.

   • 2020, Stevie Davies, The Web of Belonging:

     'Shushy shushy,' pleads Catherine. 'Shushy shushy for Mummy and Auntie Jessie.

Adjective

shushy (comparative more shushy, superlative most shushy)

1. Attempting to quieten or soothe.
   • 1980, Dorothy Edwards, My Naughty Little Sister and Bad Harry, page 27:

     My little sister went to the library with us once, but she said she wouldn't come any more because she didn't like the shushy lady and the glasses man.

   • 2008, Alan Burt Akers, Scorpio Assassin: Dray Prescot 39:

     The girl with lighter-colored hair than normal down here said in a shushy voice: “Yes. Come with me. We'll take him home.”

   • 2012, Caroline Green, Dark Ride:

     I made shushy flapping movements with my hands, which only made him screech louder.

   • 2015, Herb Payson, Blown Away, page 160:

     The first three times I drew stern, shushy looks.

   • 2017, Juliet Butler ·, The Less You Know The Sounder You Sleep:

     It sounds like a lullaby, all shushy and soothing.

2. Quiet or secretive.
   • 1947, Joseph Dever, No Lasting Home, page 34:

     Then the audience and the actor would listen desperately for the frantic, shushy promptings of the nun in the wings.

   • 2006, Vikki L. Jeanne Cleveland, The Wading Place, page 254:

     This is a shushy time...

   • 2014, Kate Messner, Manhunt:

     The adults were still being all shushy and secretive, so José read his books, Anna scribbled in her notebook, and Henry started a new game.

   • 2017, Barry Lancet, The Spy Across the Table:

     “Do you notice how shushy it is around here?”

3. Making a sibilant, whooshing sound, like the sound of the letters 'sh'.
   • 2002, S. Kennedy Tosten, M for Mall, page 110:

     I have a hat on too and the heater is blowing on me with a shushy noise .

   • 2008, Jennifer Ziegler, How Not to Be Popular, page 160:

     I decide to leave the window open and climb back into bed, hoping the shushy waves of traffic will lull me to sleep.

   • 2012, David Lewis Yewdall, The Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound:

     Remember, wear cotton clothing, not nylon or plastic, as synthetic fibers make “shushy”noises when you move, obviously spoiling your recording.