v. [a. OFr. agister (agîter, agitter), f. à to + gister, gîter to lodge:—L. *jacitā-re, freq. of jacēre to lie (perh. due to phrase à giste). A med.L. formation on the OFr. was adgistāre; cf. also gista, gistum lodging, formed on Fr. giste, sb. f. gister.]
1. To take in live stock to remain and feed, at a certain rate; orig. to admit cattle for a defined time into a forest, whence the constructions, to agist cattle, to agist the forest.
[1224. Chart. Forests (see 1618).
1304. Yearbooks Edw. I., 23. E il agista nos bestis … nos bestis furent agistes par celuy qe l’engistement ad.]
1598. Manwood, Lawes Forest, xi. § 1. If a man have common by a specialitie … he may not Agist other mens cattell, there to use his common.
1611. Cotgr., Glandager les porceaux … to agist, or lay, swine in mastic woods.
1618. Pulton, Coll. Stat. 7, tr. Chart. Forests, ix. Euery Freeman may agest his owne Wood within our Forest [agistet boscum suum in foresta] at his pleasure, and shall take his pawnage. Also we doe grant that euery Freeman may driue his swine freely without impediment through our demesne Woods, for to agest them in their owne Woods [ad agistandum eos in boscis suis propriis].
1691. Blount, Law Dict., s.v., This word Agist is also used for the taking in of other Mens Cattle into any Man’s Ground at a certain Rate per week.
1839. T. Stapleton, Plumpton Corr., 18. Sir Robert & his heirs were also to have the pannage of the swine agisted in their own woods.
2. intr. Of cattle: To remain and feed for a specified time.
1598. Manwood, Lawes of Forest, xi. § 1 (1615), 80/2. He … did put his said cattell … into the same close to Agist.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., When the lord … takes in other cattle to agist, or feed on it.
3. By extension, To rate or charge (lands or their owner) with any public burden.
1691. Blount, Law Dict., s.v., The word Agist is also metaphorically taken for a Charge or Burthen on a thing; e. g. Terrae ad custodiam maris agistatae (Selden Mare clausum 191) [Lands agisted or] charged with a Tribute to keep out the Sea.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xv. 289. The king [Edward I.] instituted the system of coastguard … and agisted or rated the land-owners of the maritime counties for its support.
