WHIST • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Whist

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noun

Whist n. A certain game at cards; so called because it requires silence and close attention. It is played by four persons (those who sit opposite each other being partners) with a complete pack of fifty-two cards. Each player has thirteen cards, and when these are played out, the hand is finished, and the cards are again shuffled and distributed. Note: Points are scored for the tricks taken in excess of six, and for the honors held. In long whist, now seldom played, ten points make the game; in short whist, now usually played in England, five points make the game. In American whist, so-called, honors are not counted, and seven points by tricks make the game.

Bridge whist. See Bridge, n., above.

Duplicate whist, a form of whist in playing which the hands are preserved as dealt and played again by other players, as when each side holds in the second round the cards played by the opposing side in the first round.

Solo whist. See Solo whist, above.

adjective

Whist adj. Not speaking; not making a noise; silent; mute; still; quiet. "So whist and dead a silence." "The winds, with wonder whist, Smoothly the waters kissed." Note: This adjective generally follows its noun, or is used predicatively.

verb

Whist v. t. To hush or silence. (Obs.)

Whist v. i. To be or become silent or still; to be hushed or mute. (R.)

interjection

Whist interj. Be silent; be still; hush; silence.

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Etymology of 'Whist'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Whist" Quotes from Famous Books

... from about 1807, represents one of the most celebrated characters who ever sat upon the bench of the Court of Session. Famous in his day for "law, paunch, whist, claret, and worth," the exploits of Charles Hay, "The Mighty," as he was called, have become traditions of the Parliament House. ...

— Raeburn • James L. Caw

... Lady S—— all this time! Where?—at the card-table, playing very judiciously at whist. With an indolent security, which will be thought incredible by those who have not seen similar instances of folly in great families, she let every thing pass before her eyes without seeing it. Confident that her daughter, after having gone through the ...

— Tales And Novels, Volume 1 • Maria Edgeworth

... next day, after dinner, over the red cloth of the tables, beneath the swinging lamps and the racks of tumblers, decanters and wine-glasses, we sat down to whist, Mrs. Peck, to oblige, taking a hand in the game. She played very badly and talked too much, and when the rubber was over assuaged her discomfiture (though not mine—we had been partners) with a Welsh rabbit and a tumbler ...

— The Patagonia • Henry James

... place." But they did approach each other, by an irresistible affinity, and by the easy companionship of common tastes. While Sophonisba engaged ardently in all the doings of the house, and was a patient retailer of its scandals; and while Mrs. Cockayne was busy with her evening whist, and morning "looks at the shops"—quiet and retiring Theodosia managed to become seriously enamoured of the Vicomte de Gars, who visited Mrs. Rowe's establishment, as the unexceptionable friend of ...

— The Cockaynes in Paris - 'Gone abroad' • Blanchard Jerrold

... alone. By a peculiar idiom in the Scotch this is frequently conjoined with the pronoun: as, "his lane," "my lane," "their lane," i. e., "by himself," "by myself," "by themselves." "Lang ten," the ten of trumps in Scotch whist. Lassie, lassock, a little girl. Lave, the remainder. Leatherin', beating, drubbing. Letten, allowed. Lift, to carry off by theft. Linn, a cataract. Lippie, the fourth part of a peck. Loon, a fellow. Loot, looten, let, allowed. ...

— Old Mortality, Complete, Illustrated • Sir Walter Scott

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