Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To incite, as a dog, by making a sibilant sound.
  • [In the following passage hist is apparently the imperative of the verb, but it is peculiarly used, perhaps like whist as used also by Milton as an apparent past participle (“the winds with wonder whist”).
  • A sibilant utterance used to attract attention and command or suggest silence.
  • noun An abbreviation of history, historical.
  • noun A common dialectal form of hoist.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • interjection Hush; be silent; -- a signal for silence.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun UK history, mainly used by schoolchildren.
  • interjection A sibilant exclamation that one should be silent

Etymologies

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Examples

  • A hissing noise was heard as if from a score of rattlesnakes, and now the cow-punchers emerged on all sides from the darkness, stepping high, with ludicrously exaggerated caution, and "hist" - ing to one another to observe the utmost prudence in approaching.

    Rolling Stones O. Henry 1886

  • Wimmen's clubs is all right so long as they stick to readin 'hist'ry and discussin' tattin ', but when they flock like a lot of old hen turkeys and go to peckin' a man because he's down and can't help himself, it ain't anything but persecution -- wolves turnin 'on another one that's got his leg broke.

    The Skipper and the Skipped Being the Shore Log of Cap'n Aaron Sproul Holman Day 1900

  • But the girls had not reached the living-room door before a "hist" halted them.

    Polly of Pebbly Pit Lillian Elizabeth Roy 1900

  • The "hist" was repeated, and then her own name was called softly but imperatively.

    Beverly of Graustark George Barr McCutcheon 1897

  • For we had not lain half an hour, enjoying the shade, and I half asleep, when he started up with a "hist," and slipped an arrow into his bow.

    Sir Ludar A Story of the Days of the Great Queen Bess Talbot Baines Reed 1872

  • As there was no vacant place, the slaves took hold of one of the guests, and gave him what the boys would call a "hist," right through the window, and

    Ting-a-ling Frank Richard Stockton 1868

  • It would be a kind of hist, you know, to see my name in print, Captain Joseph Peterkin, P.M. '

    Tracy Park Mary Jane Holmes 1866

  • As I did so, I heard the "hist" of another arrow passing my cheek.

    The Scalp Hunters Mayne Reid 1850

  • "Wa-al," said the farmer, smiling, "I d'no ez 't' hes so to speak a hist'ry, an 'yit there's allays somethin' amoosin 'to me about that platter.

    Queen Hildegarde Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards 1896

  • "hist" from his lips caused the speaker to moderate his tones instantly.

    Afloat or, Adventures on Watery Trails Alan Douglas

Comments

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  • Hist! . . . . . . Hark!

    The night is very dark,

    And we've to go a mile or so

    Across the Possum Park.

    Step . . . . . . light,

    Keeping to the right;

    If we delay, and lose our way,

    We'll be out half the night.

    The clouds are low and gloomy. Oh!

    It's just begun to mist!

    We haven't any overcoats

    And - Hist! . . . . . . Hist!

    - CJ Dennis, 'Hist'.

    July 8, 2009

  • Love it Bilby. I'm gonna print off some C.J. Dennis for the kids.

    July 8, 2009