Gist (?), n. [OF. giste abode, lodgings, F. gite, fr. g'esir to lie, L. jacre, prop., to be thrown, hence, to lie, fr. jacre to throw. In the second sense fr. OF. gist, F. git, 3d pers. sing. ind. of g'esir to lie, used in a proverb, F., c'est la que git le lievre, it is there that the hare lies, i. e., that is the point, the difficulty. See Jet a shooting forth, and cf. Agist, Joist, n., Gest a stage in traveling.]
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.
© Webster 1913.