whiskered 
2. Formed into whiskers. 
PreferriiiK sense from chin that 's bare 
To nonsense thron'd in iphi^fter'd hair. 
,1/. Green, The Spleen. 
Black-whiskered greenlet or vireo. See vireo and 
irAi>-(om-»-pHi/.— Whiskered auk or auklet, Simorhyn- 
cA«s piiymjriu!, a small auk founil in tin; North Pacific, of 
a dark' color, having long white featliers like whiskers on 
each side of the head. It closely resenililes the bird fig- 
ured at n »*•;<•(. —Whiskered bat, VespertUio myxtacinm, 
a small brown bat widely distributed in Europe and Asia. 
— Whiskered tern. Seetenji. 
whiskery (Invis'lser-i), a. [< whisl-cr + -i/i.] 
Having or weaving whiskers. [Humorous.] 
The old lady is as ugly as any woman in the parish, and 
as tall and n-hMery as a Grenadier. 
Thackeray, Book of Snobs, xli. 
whisket (hwis'ket), n. [Also wisl'ct; < whisk''- 
+ -et.~i 1 . A basket ; especially, a straw Ixisket 
in which provender is given to cattle. HalU- 
wcU. [Prov. Eng.] — 2. A small lathe forturn- 
ing wooden pins. It has a Iiollow chuck to hold 
the pin while being turned. Ji. If. Knight. 
whiskey, whiskeyfled. Seewhish/'^, whiskificd. 
whiskined, whiskeyfled (hwis'ki-fid), a. [< 
whiski/i + -fij + -erf2.] Intoxicated, or partly 
intoxicated," as with whisky. [Humorous.] 
The two ivhiskeyfied gentlemen are up with her. 
Thackeray, Virginians, xxxviil. 
This person was a sort of n-hiskified Old Mortality, who 
claimed to have cut all manner of tombstones standing 
around. W. Black, Phaeton, xxviii. (Davies.) 
whiskint (hwis'kin), )(. [Origin obscure.] 1. 
A kind of drinking-vessel. 
And wee will han a ivhiskin at every rush-bearing ; a 
wassel cup at yule ; a seed-cake at fastens. 
The Two Lancashire Lovers (1640), p. 19. (Halliwell.) 
2. A low menial of either sex. Ford's Fancies, 
i. .S, note. 
whisking (hwis'king), p. a. 1. Sweepingalong 
lightly ; moving nimbly. 
With whiskiny broom they brush and sweep 
The cloudy Curtains of Heav'ns stages steep. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks,* i. 2. 
The vhiskiriy winds. Purehas. 
2. Great; large. Bailc!/,17S\. [Prov. Eng.] 
whiskyi, whiskey^ (hwis'ki), «. [< ichisk^ + 
-1/1, because it whisks along rapidly.] A kind 
of light gig or one-horse chaise. Sometimes 
called tim-iohisky. 
Whiskeys and gigs and curricles. Crabbe, Works, II. 174. 
The increased taxation of the cnrriclo had the effect of 
bringing into existence the less expensive gig, a develop- 
ment or imitation of a class of two-wheeled caiTiage known 
in the country as a u-hisky. 
S. Dowell, Taxes in England, III. 227. 
whisky2, whiskeys (hwis'ki), ?(. [Also Sc. 
whusketj: prob. short for "ichiski/bnxgh or some 
similar form, var. of nsqucbaufih, < Gael, and Jr. 
wsgeheatha, whisky, lit. (like V. can de ric, bran- 
dy) 'water of life,' < uisyc, water, -f hcatlia, life 
(cf . L. vita, life, Gr. /3/of, life). It does not seem 
probable that E. zchiskij was taken from Gael. 
Ir. ninije simply.] An ardent spirit, distilled 
chiefly from grain. The term was originally applied 
to the spirit obtained from malt in Ireland, Scotland, etc., 
in which sense whisky is synonymous with usquehangh. 
Irish whisky and Scotch whisky are still made from malt, 
and are known by numerous names, as j^oteen, mountain- 
deu; etc. In the United States whisky is commonly made 
either from Indian corn (cfrrn tvhisky) or from rye (rye 
u-hvtky). Tlie name u-heat whisky has, however, been ap- 
prijpriated to certain brands, and wheat is probably used 
in the making of many different kinds or qualities. — 
Whisky cocktail, a cocktail in which whisky is the prin- 
cipal ingredient : it consists of whisky and water flavored 
with bitters, usually also with the peel of orange or lemon, 
and sweetened with sugar.— Whisky Insurrection or 
Rehellion. See insurreetiun. — Whisky ring^ a combi- 
nation of Tnited States revenue officers and distillers to 
defraud the government of a part of the internal-revenue 
tax on distilled spirits. It was formed in St, Louis about 
1872, extended to other western cities, and secretly ac- 
quired great influence in the government, but was broken 
up in 1875. — Whisky smash, a beverage of which the 
principal ingredient is whisky flavored with mint which 
is bruised or sma.shed in tlic liquor, and usually also with 
orange, lemon, pineapple, or other fruit ; a whisky sour 
with the addition of mint. — Whisky SOUr, a beverage 
consisting chiefly of whisky and water, acidulated with 
lenton-juice. — Whisky toddy, toddy of which whisky is 
the principal ingredient; a l)everage consisting of hot 
water and wliisky, sweetened or spiced. 
whisky-frisky (hwis'ki-fris'ki), a. Flighty. 
[Colioq.] 
As U) talking in such a whisky-frisky manner that no- 
body can understand him, why it's tantamount to not 
talking at all. Miss Hurney, Cecilia, ix. 3. 
whisky-jack (hwis'ki-jak),}(. [An altered form, 
by substitution of the familiar. /or/,' iovJohn, of 
u-hi>;ki/-j(ilt)i.'\ The gray jay cinnnioii in north- 
ern sections and western mountainous parts of 
North America; the Cana'la jay, I'triffiircihs 
c'liiridfiisis. related to /'. infaioiliis nt northern 
Europe; the moose-bird. See cut under Peri- 
sorons. 
6906 
The Canada Jay, or Whiskey-Jack (the corruption proba- 
bly of a Cree name). Encyc. Brit., XIII. 611. 
whisky-john (hwis'ki-jon), n. [A corruption of 
the Cree lud. name, rendered wluskac-sliawiieesh 
by Sir John Richardson, but commonly spelled 
wiskachon, < Cree Ind. wiss-ka-tjan. Cf. nhi.sky- 
juck.'] Same as irhiskii-jack. 
whisky-li'yer (hwis'ki-liv"er), v. Cirrhosis of 
the liver, resulting from chronic alcohol-poison- 
ing. 
whisp (hwisp), )(. An erroneous form of icisp, 4 
(like the erroneous form, now established, whisk 
for wisk). 
whisper (hwis'per), V. [< ME. whisperen, whys- 
peren, whispren, hwispreu, whisper, < AS. 
(ONorth.) hicisjman, whisper, murmur, = MD. 
wispercn, D.«i'(spc?e«, whisper, = OHG.i('i-«/M(?o«, 
hwispalon, MH(j. G. wispeln, whisper; ef. recent 
G. wispern, whisper; allied to Icel. hviskra = Sw. 
hriska = Dan. hviske, whisper; imitative words, 
like whistcr, whistle, AS. hwi.itlian and hweestri- 
an, whistle, ult. from the sibilant base hwis-. 
Cf. whistle.'] I. intrans. 1. To speak without 
uttering voice or sonant breath ; speak with a 
low, rustling voice ; speak softly or under the 
breath; converse in whispers: often implying 
plotting, evil-speaking, and the like. 
I'll whisper with the general, and know his pleasure. 
Shak., All's Well, iv. 8. 329. 
When David saw that his servants tvhispered, David per- 
ceived that the child was dead. 2 Sam. xii. 19. 
All that hate me whisper together against me. Ps. xli. 7. 
The hawthorn-bush, with seats beneath the shade — 
For talking age and whispering lovers made ! 
(joldstnith, Bes. Vil,, 1. 14. 
Alas ! they had been friends in youth ; 
But whispering tongues can poison truth. 
Coleridge, Christabel, ii. 
2. To make a low, rustling sound, like that of 
a whisper. 
Soft zephyrs whispering through the trees. 
Thomson, Country Life. 
The trees began to whisper, and the wind began to roll. 
Tennyson, May Queen, Conclusion. 
Smooth aa our Charles [River], when, fearing lest he wrong 
The new moon's mirrored skiff, he slides along. 
Full without noise, and whispers in his reeds. 
Lowell, To H. \V. L. on his Birthday. 
Whispered bronchophony, bronchophony elicited by 
the whispering of the patient. 
II. tra)is. 1. To utter in a low non-vocal tone; 
say under the breath ; state or communicate in 
whispers; often implying plotting, slanderous 
talk, etc. 
She tfhispers in his ears a heavy tale. 
Shak., Venns and Adonis, 1. 1125. 
Fresh gales and gentle airs 
Whisper'd it to the woods. 
Miltoti, P. L., viil. 516. 
I know that 's a Secret, for it 's whisper'd every where, 
Congrevi', Love for Love, iii. 3. 
2. To address or inform in a whisper or low 
voice, especially with the view of avoiding pub- 
licity : elliptical for whisper to. 
He did first whisper the man in the ear, that such a man 
should think of such a card. Bacon, Nat. Hist., § 946. 
He came 
To whisper Wolsey. 
Sliak., Hen. VIII., i. 1. 179. 
You saw her whisper me erewhile, 
B. Jonson, Epiccene, iv. 2. 
He whisper'd the bonnie lassie heraell. 
And has her favour won. 
Katharine Janfarie (Child's Ballads, IV. 30). 
At the same time he ichispered me in the ear to take 
notice of a tabby cat that sat in the chimney corner. 
Addison, Spectator, No. 117. 
whisper (hwis'per), )?. [< whisper, v.l 1. The 
utterance of words with the breath not made 
vocal ; a low, soft, rustling voice. 
The seaman's whistle 
Is as a whv'per in the ears of death. 
Shak., Pericles, iii. 1. 9. 
The inward voice or whisper can never give a tone. 
Bacon, Nat. llist., 1 174. 
2. A whispered word, remark, or conversation. 
Full well the busy whisper, circling round, 
Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd. 
Goldsmith, Des. Vil., 1. 203. 
I^pon his first rising the court was hushed, and a gen- 
eral wfiisper ran among the country people that Sir Roger 
was uj). Addison, Spectator, No. 122. 
No sound broke the stillness of the night save now and 
then low whispers from the men, who were standing mo- 
tionless in the ranks. Cornhill Mag., Oct., 18S8, p. 384. 
3. A secret hint, suggestion, or insinuation. 
At least, the whisper goes so. Shak., Hamlet, i, 1, SO, 
Princes, 
'I'luMigh they be sometime subject to loose whispers. 
Yet wear they two-edg'd swords for open censures, 
Fletcher, Valentinian, Iii, 1. 
whist 
T heard many whispers against the other, as a whimsical 
sort of a fellow. Steele, Tatler, No. 48. 
4. A low, rustling sound of whispering, or a 
similar sound, as of the wind. 
In whispers like the whijipers of the leaves 
That tremble round a nightingale. 
Tennyson, Gardener's Daughter. 
5. Specifically, in mcd., the sound of the whis- 
pering voice transmitted to the ear of the aus- 
eultator placed against the chest-wall Carer- 
nous ■wrhisper. See cavernous.— 'Pig.'li 'Whisper. See 
pig'i. 
whisperer (hwis'per-er), n. [< whisper + -erl.] 
1. One who whispers, or speaks in a low, soft, 
rustling voice, or under the breath. — 2. One 
who tells secrets, or makes secret and mis- 
chievous communications; a talebearer; an 
informer. 
A whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov. xvi. 28. 
Whisperers, backbiters, haters of God. Rom, i. 29. 
Their trust towards them hath rather been as to good 
spials and good whisperers than good magistrates and of- 
ficers. Bacon, Deformity (ed. 1887). 
They are directly under the conduct of their whisperer, 
and think they are in a state of freedom while they can 
prate with one of these attendants of all men in general, 
and still avoid the man they most like. 
Steele, Spectator, No. 118. 
whisperhood (hwis'per-hud), n. [< whisper -H 
-hood.'] The state of being a whisper ; the initial 
condition of a rumor — that is, a mere whisper 
or insinuation. [Rare.] 
I know a lie that now disturbs half the kingdom with 
its noise, which, although too proud and great at present 
to own its parents, I can remember its whisperhood. 
Swift, Examiner, No. 14. 
whispering (hwis'per-ing), n. [Verbal n. of 
whisper, v.] 1. Whispered talk or conversa- 
tion ; a whisper, or whispers collectively. 
Ther was nothing but private meetings and whisperings 
amongst them, they feeding themselves & others with 
what they should bring to pass in England. 
Bradford, Plymouth Plantation, p. 173. 
Even the whisperings ceased, and nothing broke the 
stillness but the plashing of the waves without. 
E. L. Bynner, Begum's Daughter, xxii. 
2. Talebearing, hint, or insinuation. 
Lest there be . . . whisperings. 2 Cor. xii. 20. 
Foul whisperings are abroad. Shak., Macbeth, v. 1. 79. 
whispering (hwis'per-ing), p. a. [Ppr. of whis- 
per, v.] I. Like a whisper ; low and non-vo- 
eal. 
The passing of all these hundreds of naked feet makes 
a great whispering sound over the burning pavements. 
Harper's Mag., LXXVII. 224. 
2. Eriiitting, making, or characterized by a low 
sound resembling a whisper. 
The watch-dog's voice that bay'd the whispering wind. 
Goldsmith, Des. Vil., 1. 121. 
To Rosy Brook, to cut long whispering reeds which grew 
there, to make pan-pipes of. 
T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Rugby, i. 3. 
I waded and fioundered a couple of miles through the 
whispering night. Loicell, Study Windows, p. 40. 
whispering-gallery (hwis'per-ing-gal"e-ri), «. 
See f/allcry, 
whisperingly (hwis'p^r-ing-li), adv. In a whis- 
pering manner; in a low voice. 
The pool in the comer where the grasses were dank 
and trees leaned whisperingly. 
George Eliot, Middlemarch, liL 
whisperously(hwis'per-us-li),«rf('. [< *irhisper- 
oiis (< whisper + -ous) -(- -ly-.] In a whisper; 
whisperingly. [Rare.] 
The Duchess in awe of Carr Vipont sinks her voice, and 
gabbles on whisperously. 
Bulwer, What will he do with it? v. 8. 
whistl (hwist), interj. [< ME. whist! hush! ef. 
whi.'yht, histi, husht, hu^h, etc. These are all va- 
riations of the utterance st, consisting of a sibi- 
lant or low hiss stopped abruptly by the stop- 
consonant t. This utterance is especially suit- 
ed to call the attention of one near, and by the 
lowness of the sound to suggest silence. Cf. 
whisper, whistle.] Silence! hush! be still! 
whistl (hwist), a. [Also whish; < whist^, interj.] 
Hushed; silent; mute; still: chiefly used pred- 
icatively. 
When all were ichist. King Edward thus bespake. 
Peele, Honour of the Garter. 
Far from the town (where all is whist and still). 
Marlowe, Hero and Leander, i. 
The winds, with wonder whigt. 
Smoothly the waters kist 
Milton, Nativity, I. 64. 
whistlf Hiwist), r. [<whist^.a. Of. hist^, husht, 
etc.] I. trails. To silence; still. 
So was the Titanesse put downe and whist. 
Spenser, V. I}., VII, vii. 69. 
