WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Gist
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OF. giste abode, lodgings, F. g?te, fr. g?sir to lie, L. jac, prop., to be thrown, hence, to lie, fr. jacre to throw. In the second sense fr. OF. gist, F. g?t, 3d pers. sing. ind. of g?sir to lie, used in a proverb, F., c'est l? que g?t le li?vre, it is
Definition : 1. A resting place. [Obs.] These quails have their set gists; to wit, ordinary resting and baiting places. Holland.

2. The main point, as of a question; the point on which an action rests; the pith of a matter; as, the gist of a question.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913