WHIST, adjective Silent; mute; still; not speaking; not making a noise. The winds with wonder whist smoothly the waters kissd. [This adjective, like some others, always follows its noun. We never say, whist wind; but the wind is whist ] WHIST is used for be silent. whist whist that is, be silent or still. WHIST, noun A game at cards, so called because it requires silence or close attention. It is not in America pronounced whisk.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI