whicker
/ˈwɪkə
/verb [no object]
(Of a horse) give a soft breathy whinny.The horse whickered gently under his breath and Lon smiled....
- She heard horses whickering softly in a nearby stable, owned by Master and Mistress Kaelseen, if she remembered correctly.
- The horse whickered at Tomias, nudging him gently.
noun
A whickering sound.I fell asleep swiftly, the intoxicating scent of horses and the snorts and whickers and stomps becoming a lullaby....
- Screams of townspeople, the roar of the fires, and the frantic whicker of an approaching horse rang through the air.
Origin
Mid 17th century (in the sense 'to snigger, titter'): imitative.