ubizmo wrote: I think that wikipedia says that the "penny" in "pennywhistle" refers not so much to the cost of the whistle but the fact that they were associated with "beggars," i.e., buskers, so I think "pennywhistle" is probably a good generic term.
There were also "Penny Theatres" - amature performances of plays often staged on street corners with few props. Passers by were expected to contribute a penny or thereabouts to stay and watch.
"Penny Dreadful" was a term applied to nineteenth century British fiction publications, usually lurid serial stories appearing in parts over a number of weeks, each part costing a penny. The term, however, soon came to encompass a variety of publications that featured cheap sensational fiction, such as story papers and booklet libraries, so the "penny" wasn't meant too literally there either (see also "spending a penny"). Did anyone expect to pay a penny (or slightly more) for a penny farthing?
Perhaps cheaper whistles could keep the "penny" tag, but it would be stretching it to apply the term to high-end whistles.
"Tin whistle" is probably generic too in the same way that tin cans are now made of steel or aluminium, but could lead to more confusion than "penny whistle", particularly with the plastic whistles. I don't think anyone would complain at getting an aluminium or nickle "tin whistle" but some might raise an eyebrow if they got a PVC one.
Just my two pennyworth
Stay hoopy,
Mike
