Now dial. Also 5 whischt, 7–9 wheesht. [A natural utterance, nearly identical with the 16th c. huissht (see HUSHT int.1), and with WHIST int.1] An exclamation enjoining silence: Hush!
14[?]. Whisht, whischt [see quot. 1382 s.v. WHIST int.1].
1684. [Meriton], Yorksh. Dial., 53. Wheesht, wheesht, my Mother’s coming up.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., III. i. Prol. But whisht! it is the Knight in Masquerade, That comes.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xlv. But whisht, I hear the keeper coming.
1893. Stevenson, Catriona, xxx. ‘Wheesht!’ said he, ‘this is my affairs.’
