Also 9 Sc. wheesht, wheisht. [f. WHISHT int.]
1. An utterance of ‘whisht!’ to enjoin silence: cf. WHIST sb.2 1.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 106. A Whisht is when we bid them holde their peace that haue least cause to speake.
1908. Weyman, Wild Geese, viii. 114. What do you mean with your ‘whishts’ and your nods?
2. Silence; in phr. to hold one’s whisht, to keep silence. Sc.
1785. Burns, Vision, I. 43. I held my whisht; The infant aith, half-form’d, was crusht.
1824. Mactaggart, Gallovid. Encycl., s.v. Wheesht, Haud your wheesht, be silent.
1895. Crockett, Men of Moss-Hags, xxxv. You ken naught about it. You had better hold your wheesht.
3. A whisper; with negative = ‘not a whisper,’ not the least utterance. Sc.
a. 1774. Fergusson, Ecl., Poet. Wks. (1800), 89. Be you as calm’s a mouse, Nor let your whisht be heard.
1881. Lucy B. Walford, Dick Netherby, v. There is na a wheesht against him.
