General
whisht
What does whisht mean?
An interjection or command telling someone to be silent. 'Hold your whisht' means keep quiet.
"Whisht now, the news is on."
Origin
From Middle English 'whist'; often considered onomatopoeic (a shushing sound), used across Ireland, Scotland and northern England.
Frequently asked questions
What does whisht mean?
It's an interjection meaning 'hush' or 'be quiet'.
What does 'hold your whisht' mean?
It means keep quiet or hold your tongue. The Scots form 'haud yer wheesht' is the same idea.
Where does whisht come from?
From Middle English 'whist', often seen as onomatopoeic (a shushing sound), and used across Ireland, Scotland and northern England.
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