whinge

Etymology

From a northern variant of Old English hwinsian (“to whine”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwinisōn (“to whine”), from Proto-West Germanic *hwīnan (“to whine”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱwey- (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”). Cognate with German winseln (“to whine, whimper”).

verb

1. (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) To whine; to complain, especially in an annoying or persistent manner.
   Argh! He has been whinging about it all night, even though he knows there's nothing we can do.
   I know it won't help but sometimes it feels better to whinge about the things that annoy me.
   Mostly, they were wingeing about the lousy cook and the same thing served too often 1992, Sky Phillips, Secret mission to Melbourne, November, 1941, page 45
   His wife will winge her bloody head off, but Nev will come good. 1993, Michael Fisher, The Nightmare Man, page 169
   "I'm miserable," Sam proclaimed, plodding behind with his shoelace flapping. "Nobody ever gives me butter-pies when I need them." / "Shut up," said Jonathan. "Stop wingeing." 2002, Diana Wynne Jones, A Tale of Time City, page 41
   2012, John Lyons, The Australian, 1st Dec issue, Action stations as sea giants stay vigilant on the frontline "You know the problem these days with young people? Get them to carry a 500-pound bomb and within 30 seconds they're making noises," he says, imitating a whingeing sound.

noun

1. (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) A cry.
   Her whinges grew even shriller and more annoying the longer we had to listen to them.
2. (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) A peevish complaint.
   I know you don't like it, but your whinges won't solve the problem!