Forms: see WHISK sb.1 [In early use Sc.; prob. of Scandinavian origin: cf. Sw. viska to whisk (off), sponge, Da. viske to wipe, whisk, rub, sponge (a gun), Norw. viska to put straw, etc., together in a bundle = OHG. wisken (MHG., G. wischen) to wipe, † intr. to move lightly or briskly, LG. wisken to move quickly, wipe off, etc.: cf. WHISK sb.1 The spelling with wh was adopted as being symbolic (cf. whip).]
1. intr. To move with a light rapid sweeping motion; to make a single sudden movement of this kind, to rush or dart nimbly; to move about or travel swiftly or briskly (occas. with it).
c. 1480. Henryson, Swallow, xliii. Like to the mow before the face of wind Quhiskis away.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. iv. 68. Suddanlie away thai [sc. harpies] wisk ilk ane, Furth of our sicht, heich wp in the sky. Ibid., XII. xii. 172. Lyke as befor the hund wyskis the hair.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. James iv. 7–17. You … whiske about by sea and by lande, to get pelfe.
1592. R. D., Hypnerotomachia, 12 b. Their vestures whisking vp and flying abroad.
1623. Jobson, Golden Trade, 35. Our Country beasts, who will wiske with their tayles, and seeke any other defence, to auoyde or be rid of them [sc. flies].
a. 1699. J. Beaumont, Psyche, XX. cxlvii. Sweets which each silly Wind that whisketh by, Snatcheth, and scattereth.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 144, ¶ 2. We … watch an Opportunity to whisk cross a Passage, very thankful that we are not run over.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, I. 172. Prickets from Thickets, Come whisk it and frisk it.
1800. Mrs. Hervey, Mourtray Fam., III. 272. In whisking round a sharp angle, they overset the carriage.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, II. 133. The … beavers … chasing each other about the pond, dodging and whisking about on the surface.
1868. Louis M. Alcott, Little Women, iii. As Meg appeared, Scrabble [the pet rat] whisked into his hole.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xviii. 254. We whisked through Maghull village.
b. The vb.-stem used as adv. or int.: With a whisk, or sudden light movement.
1750. Gray, Long Story, 79. Out of the window, whisk, they flew.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xlvii. He carried in his pocket … a fire-box of mysterious … construction; and as sure as ever Kit’s mother closed her eyes, so surely—whisk, rattle, fizz—there was the single gentleman consulting his watch by a flame of fire.
2. trans. To move (something) about, away, back, etc., with a light sweeping motion.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VIII. Prol. 163. Quhen I walkynnit, all that welth was wiskyt away.
1594. Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, II. C 1 b. He … whiskt his sword about.
1675. Hobbes, Odyssey, XI. 576. A sudden winde … whiskt away the Twigs.
1711. Budgell, Spect., No. 67, ¶ 9. [He] ran to his Partner,… and whisked her round cleverly above ground.
1768. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), I. 83. Burning a small stick at the end … and whisking it round to make gold lace, as we called it.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 317. The squirrel … there whisks his brush, And perks his ears.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., iv. The horses … whisked their tails about.
1884. Manch. Exam., 24 Nov., 6/3. One cannot always guard against a whirlpool catching the rudder or the prow, and whisking the boat round on a pivot.
1916. A. B. Reeve, Poisoned Pen, iv. I forgot about it as I was whisked up in the elevator.
b. in reference to rapid travel: cf. whirl.
1694. N. H., Ladies Dict., 436. They whisk her to Bath, to Bristol.
1801. G. Colman, Poor Gentl., IV. i. 59. There are four spanking greys … that shall whisk you to town in a minute.
1817. W. T. Moncrieff, Giovanni in Lond., I. ii. Ply your oar, and wisk me over to the other side.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, ii. A solitary omnibus, which daily whisks a few country people … down to Uxbridge.
3. To brush or sweep lightly and rapidly from a surface, esp. with a light instrument, as a feather or small brush.
1621. G. Sandys, Ovid’s Met., X. (1626), 214. Their tufted tailes Whiske vp the dust.
c. 1790. Imison’s Sch. Arts, II. 26. Having drawn the outline … faintly with charcoal, whisking out the faulty part with a feather.
1822. W. Irving, Braceb. Hall, II. 259. His … horse stood, stamping and whisking off the flies.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xxiii. The beadle … finished a piece of toast; whisked the crumbs off his knees [etc.].
1881. Lucy B. Walford, Dick Netherby, v. ‘An’ shame on you for thinkin’ sae.’ Mrs. M‘Clintock whisked her apron from her eyes.
4. To beat or whip with a rod of twigs or the like. Obs. in gen. sense: in later use, To stir or beat op (eggs, cream, etc.) with a light rapid movement (= WHIP v. 7), esp. by means of a whisk (see WHISK sb.1 3).
1530. R. Whytford, Werke for Housholders, E i. Yf any chylde be … stubburne,… let it … be whysked with a good rodde.
1703. [implied in WHISKING vbl. sb.].
1710. T. Fuller, Pharmacopœia, 325. Whites of Eggs beat up and whisk’d ’till it stand all in froth.
1836. Mollard, Art of Cookery, 265. A tea spoonful of Gum Dragon whisked to a solid froth.
1846. Soyer, Cookery, 49. Using three whole and three yolks of eggs, but omitting the whisked whites.
1904. Cassell’s New Dict. Cookery, s.v. Cream, Whipped, Double cream may be simply whipped by whisking it with a wire whisk until it thickens.
† 5. fig. app. To hoax. (Cf. FRISK v. 4 b.)
1674. J. Howard, Engl. Mounsieur, V. iv. Hark ye Mr. Frenchlove, I believe you and I are whisk’t with a couple of Wives, for Mr. Welbred, and Mr. Comely pretended to be in love with them, and the Devil a bit there’s any such thing.
