Where did the phrase "clean as a whistle" originate?

"One possibility is that the old simile describes the whistling sound of a sword as it swishes through the air to decapitate someone, and an early 19th century quotation does suggest this connection: 'A first rate shot.(his) head taken off as clean as a whistle.' The expression is proverbial, at least since the 18th century, when Robert Burns used a variation on it. More likely the basic idea suggests the clear, pure sound a whistle makes, or the slippery smooth surface of a willow stick debarked to make a whistle. But there is also a chance that the phrase may have originally been 'as clean as a whittle,' referring to a piece of smooth wood after it is whittled.'" (From the "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997.)

Another source states: "Robert Burns, in his poem, 'Earnest Cry,' used 'toom' ('empty') rather than 'clean' - 'Paint Scotland greetan owre her thrissle; Her mutchkin stoup as toom's a whissle' - and other writers have had the whistle clear, dry, pure or other adjective. The basic intent, however, is to indicate that, for a sweet, pure sound from a whistle or reed, the tube must be clean and dry." (From "Heavens to Betsy & Other Curious Sayings" by Charles Earle Funk, Harper & Row, New York, 1955.)

And a third: ".As every old-timer can tell you, a good whistle made from a reed or a piece of wood emits a clear tone - but it is easily damaged. Even small particles of debris, or a few drops of moisture will change the sound of a handmade instrument. In order to emit the pure notes intended by its maker, a whistle has to be absolutely clean. Anything or anyone as clean as a brand-new whistle or as clear as its sound is bound to be good. All of which means that an organization or person called as 'clean as a whistle' has been judged to be guiltless or flawless." (From "Why You Say It" by Webb Garrison, Rutledge Hill Press, Nashville, Tenn., 1992.)

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/33/messages/522.html

Completely, entirely, thoroughly, as in He chopped off the branch, clean as a whistle. The allusion in this simile is unclear. It may have been a replacement for the 18th-century clear as a whistle, which alluded to the pure, clean sound of a whistle (it has few overtones). However, it was adopted to describe something thoroughly done. [Early 1800s]

http://www.answers.com/clean%20as%20a%20whistle

This is an old time saying. A good whistle made from a reed or a piece of wood lets out a clear tone, but it's easily damaged. Small particles of debris, or a few drops of moisture, will change the sound of a handmade instrument. In order to emit the pure notes intended by its maker, a whistle has to be absolutely clean. All of which means that an person called clean as a whistle has been judged to be flawless.

http://www.mindlesscrap.com/stumpme/04-02.htm

According to Oxford English Dictionary, the first occurrence of this phrase was in 1828:

1828 Craven glossary Carr, William
The dialect of Craven, in the West-Riding of the County of York (anon.) 1824, 1828. s.v., ‘As clean as a whistle’, a proverbial simile, signifying completely, entirely. 1842 J. WILSON Chr. North I. 84 By the time we reach the manse we are as dry as a whistle. 1849 W. S. MAYO Kaloolah v. (1850) 41 A first rate shot;..head taken off as clean as a whistle. 1865 DICKENS Mut. Fr. I. xv, You're as clean as a whistle. 1880 A. GRAY Lett. (1893) II. 710 My throat was as clear as a whistle.

http://radicalreference.info/node/860

The phrase actually has two meanings: "clean or pure" and "absolutely, completely." "Utterly or completely" is the original 18th century meaning -- a roof blown off in a tornado might be said to have been torn off "clean as a whistle," leaving no remnants. The "pure or unsullied" meaning ("Wash that deck until it's clean as a whistle, sailor") came later, and may have its roots in a misunderstanding of the sense of "clean" in the original phrase.

If that seems a little mysterious, the answer may lie in the fact that the original phrase wasn't really "clean as a whistle." Christine Ammer, in her book "Have A Nice Day -- No Problem, A Dictionary of Cliches," points to the phrase "clear as a whistle," very common in the 18th century. While spoken commands might be misunderstood in a noisy environment, no one could mistake a loud whistle for anything else, so "clear as a whistle" came to mean "unmistakable" or "unambiguous."

The later substitution of "clean" meaning "completely" for "clear" therefore makes a certain amount of sense, but the subsequent drift of "clean" in the phrase to mean "pure" is what has led to folks like you wondering "what's so clean about whistles?"

http://www.word-detective.com/112897.html

1. if someone is as clean as a whistle, they are not involved in anything illegal. He hasn't got a criminal record - he's clean as a whistle.
2. to be very clean. The café's as clean as a whistle, and the food's excellent.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/clean+as+a+whistle

If something is as clean as a whistle, it is extremely clean, spotless. It can also be used to mean completely, though this meaning is 'less common' nowadays.

http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/clean+as+a+whistle.html

The answer is as clear as mud. Some say Robert Burns originated the phrase in his poem "Earnest Cry", although he actually used "toom" instead of "clean" in the poem: "Paint Scotland greetan owre her thrissle; Her mutchkin stoup as toom's a whissle". "Toom", according to a Burns decoder ring I got from a professor of mine, means "empty". It's the same concept and apparently the earliest simile regarding whistles being "clean" or "empty" found in written form.

According to "Why We Say It" by Webb Garrison, whistles whittled from wood (say that five times fast!) are easily damaged, and their clear tone can be muddled by the smallest bits of debris, so it's necessary for them to be "toom" or "clean".

"A whistle (wood) has to be clean to make a good, pure sound. Any little particles in it will cause it to sound funny. A brand new whistle is the cleanest and best! So, when someone is said to be as clean as a whistle, it simply means that he/she have no imperfections or is not guilty."

http://www.brownielocks.com/wordorigins.html

Just a guess, but on a locomotive everything is covered with coal dust except the steam-powered whistle. The timing is about right too (early 1800's).

dunno, but whistles arent very clean once used... so in essence the saying should be

'as clean as an unused whistle'