whist

whist · noun¹

Alteration of whisk, perhaps so called from the notion of “whisking” up cards after each trick. Altered perhaps on assumption that the word was an interjection invoking silence, by influence of whist (“silent”).

whist · interjection, verb, adjective²

1. Middle English · inherited fromwhist“silent”
2. English todaywhist

From Middle English whist (“silent”), possibly onomatopoeic.