Now dial. Also 6 whyst, whuist, quist, 9 Sc. wheest. [A natural utterance enjoining silence: cf. HIST, HUST, IST, ST, also HUSHT, WHISHT.] An exclamation to command silence: Hush! (Coinciding with the imperative of WHIST v.1 1.)
1382. Wyclif, Judges xviii. 19. Thei answerden, Whist [v.rr. Whisht, Whischt; 1388 Be thou stille], and put fynger vpon thi mouth.
1575. A. F., Virg. Bucol., v. 14. Leaue of, whyst, say no more.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., Wks. (Grosart), II. 89. If … your tongue [be] soe laxatiue,… whuist a while.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Adelphos, III. ii. Quist, quist, what man, art thou well in thy wits?
1611. J. Davies, Worthy Persons, Wks. (Grosart), II. 58/2. Whist, and me attend.
1611. Cotgr., Houische,… husht, whist, ist, not a word for your life.
1762. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, V. i. Whist!—cried one—st, st,—said a second—hush, quoth a third—poo, poo, replied a fourth—gramercy! cried the Lady Carnavallette.
1834. Marryat, Peter Simple, xiii. Whist—hold your tongue—you’ve not heard the end of it.
1859. H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xxxix. When I came to the door Donovan took me by the arm, and saying ‘whist,’ led me into the sitting-room.
1891. Alex. Gordon, Folks o’ Carglen, 54. ‘Whist, whist,’ cried Francie.
1894. Lyttle, Betsy Gray, iii. Wheest, man, or ye’ll wauken up the waen!
