I. noun
( -s )
Etymology: from earlier fuste, from Middle French, from fust wood, stick, beam, barrel, from Latin fustis cudgel
1. obsolete : a light galley
2. obsolete : riverboat : barge
II. ˈfȯist verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably from obs Dutch vuisten to take into one's hand, from Middle Dutch vūsten, vuisten, from vūst, vuist fist; akin to Old English fȳst fist — more at fist
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to introduce when palmed : palm — used of dice
2.
a. : to introduce or insert surreptitiously or without warrant
the comments of men … had been foisted into Christian religion — Matthew Arnold
b. : to force another to accept especially by stealth or deceit
there are two nestlings unless a cowbird has foisted its brat upon them — D.C.Peattie
when the states … foist unnecessary expenses on local taxpayers — T.C.Desmond
c. : to attribute wrongfully
an author may try out a theory on paper and be dissatisfied with it. If by chance the document survives him it is unfair to foist the doctrine upon him — R.I.Aaron
a purely imaginary characteristic is foisted on the universe and presented as an axiom of science — Herbert Dengle
3. : to pass off (something spurious) as genuine or worthy
her novel is better written than many foisted on the reading public — Harry Hansen
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to practice cheating
2. obsolete : to pick pockets
III. noun
( -s )
1. obsolete : foister
2. obsolete : rascality , swindle