whist

¹

[ wist, hwist ]

noun

1. a card game, an early form of bridge, but without bidding.

whist

²

[ hwist, wist ]

interjection

1. hush! silence! be still!

adjective

1. hushed; silent; still.

noun

1. Chiefly Irish. silence:

   Hold your whist.

verb (used without object)

1. British Dialect. to be or become silent.

verb (used with object)

1. British Dialect. to silence.

whist

¹

/ hwist /

interjection

1. a variant of whisht

whist

²

/ wɪst /

noun

1. a card game for four in which the two sides try to win the balance of the 13 tricks: forerunner of bridge

Word History and Origins

Origin of whist¹

1655–65; earlier whisk, perhaps identical with whisk, though sense relationship uncertain

Origin of whist²

1350–1400, Middle English; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of whist¹

C17: perhaps changed from whisk , referring to the sweeping up or whisking up of the tricks

Example Sentences

Also, this is likely the only hip-hop song in history to mention the card game whist.

From New York Times

Bid whist, for our generation, was the national Black pastime.

From Washington Post

When the book opens the punctilious Phileas Fogg lives by the clock, his schedule never varying, each day passed almost entirely at London’s Reform Club, where he reads the newspapers, dines and plays whist.

From Washington Post

She did not appear when we afterwards went up to Miss Havisham’s room, and we four played at whist.

From Literature

Contractors also discovered a hat worn by Yamen Cafe staff members, a whist book and a packet of playing cards.

From BBC

Related Words

• muted
• peaceful
• reticent
• silent
• soft