pishing
n.— «Sensing that time is fleeting, Kantrowitz tries a technique known as “pishing.” This annoying whispery sound not only seems to attract birds but also reinforces the common belief that birders are, shall we say, occasionally a bit odd.» —“Early birders give a hoot for Christmas count” by Jim Wright The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey) Dec. 31, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
What’s up with ketchup? The shifting history and spelling of the name of this condiment. For centuries, ketchup was a fishy sauce originating in Asia—the tomatoes came only later! Plus, a new book shows what’s lost when a language dies: when there...
Lisa from Tabernacle, New Jersey, grew up using the term cabbage night to refer to the night before Halloween when all manner of mischief takes place. The term itself goes back to the 1860s, while the custom of pranks on October 30 is older. The...