whist Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a card game for four players who form two partnerships; a pack of 52 cards is dealt and each side scores one point for each trick it takes in excess of six
    long whist; short whist.

WordNet


Whist interjection
Etymology
Cf. G. st! pst! bst! . Cf. Hist.
Definitions
  1. Be silent; be still; hush; silence.
Whist noun
Etymology
From Whist, interj.
Definitions
  1. 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, he hand is finished, and the cards are again shuffled and distributed. ✍ 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.
Whist transitive verb
Etymology
From Whist, interj.
Definitions
  1. To hush or silence. Obs. Spenser.
Whist intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be or become silent or still; to be hushed or mute. R. Surrey.
Whist adjective
Etymology
Properly p. p. of whist, v.
Definitions
  1. Not speaking; not making a noise; silent; mute; still; quiet. "So whist and dead a silence." Sir J. Harrington.
    The winds, with wonder whist, Smoothly the waters kissed. Milton.
    ✍ This adjective generally follows its noun, or is used predicatively.

Webster 1913