The word "whist" is a card game played with four players in two partnerships. Its spelling is unusual because the "wh-" sound in the beginning is pronounced differently than it would be in "white." In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled /wɪst/ with a short "i" sound. The "-" denotes a syllable break, and the "st" at the end is pronounced as it would in "list." This unique spelling and pronunciation can be confusing for English language learners and may take some practice to master.
Whist is a classic trick-taking card game that originated in England in the 17th century. It is typically played by four players in two partnerships, with the objective of winning the majority of tricks in each hand.
The game of whist is played with a standard 52-card deck. The rank of cards follows a traditional hierarchy, with Aces being the highest and Twos being the lowest. The dealer distributes 13 cards to each player, starting with the player to their left. The dealer also turns the next card face-up to determine the trump suit for that particular hand.
The gameplay revolves around players taking turns playing a card, with the requirement to follow suit if possible. The highest-ranking card of the leading suit wins each trick, unless a trump card is played, in which case the highest trump card wins. Players earn points for winning tricks and the team with the most points at the end of each hand wins.
Whist requires players to employ strategy and tactics, as it involves estimation, deduction, and careful card management. Communication between partners is crucial, as players need to coordinate their efforts to maximize their chances of success.
Over the years, numerous variations of whist have emerged, including solo whist and bid whist, each with their own specific rules and gameplay mechanics. Whist remains a beloved social card game, appreciated for its combination of skill, luck, and camaraderie.
• Listen; be still.
• Not making a noise; mute; still.
• A certain game at cards-so called from the close silent attention which it requires.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "whist" originates from the Middle English term "whiste", which was derived from the Old English word "hwist", meaning "a hiss, a whistle, or a pipe". The Old English word ultimately traces back to the Proto-Germanic word "*hwistijaną", meaning "to make a hissing sound". Over time, "whist" came to be associated with a card game that was popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, becoming its primary meaning.