Now dial. Also whysht(e, 9. Sc. wheesht. [A variant of WHIST a.1; cf. WHISHT int.] Silent, quiet, still, hushed.
1570. T. Wilson, Demosth. Orat., Life, 117. He desired … to tell them a merie tale. Where vpon when euery man was whisht and still, he sayde thus.
1615. Brightman, Rev., 143. Reprehensions are whisht, wickednes raigneth.
1802. R. Anderson, Cumbld. Ball. (1805), 5. As whisht as a mouse.
1893. Stevenson, Catriona, xv. Nights … when he was here on sentry, the place a’ wheesht.
Hence Whishtly adv., silently, quietly.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. John xvi. 23–28. I shall than speake vnto you whishtlye and without woordes.
Whisht a.2 (dial.): see WISHT.
