Obs. Forms: 5–7 fuste, (6 fuyst), 6–7 foiste, foyst(e, 6–8, 9 Hist. foist, (7 foise). [a. OF. fuste, ad. It. fusta fem. originally log, piece of timber, f. L. fustis cudgel.]
1. A light galley; a vessel propelled both by sails and oars. Cf. FELUCCA.
1485. Caxton, Paris & Vienna (1868), 80. By aduenture they fonde a fuste.
1558–80. Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr., I. I. 17 b. Wee were set vpon by fiue foystes of Pirates.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 430. Peeces of great ordinance placed in fusts and gallies.
1777. Hoole, Comenius’ Vis. World (ed. 12), 111. A Ship furnished with oars is a Barge, or a Yoyst.
fig. 1569. Shippe of Safegarde.
| Regarding not the hasard of himselfe, | |
| Nor taking heede his fleshly foyst to guide, | |
| Full fraught with sin, and care of worldly pelfe, | |
| Makes no account of wether, winde or tide. |
a. 1625. Fletcher, Woman’s Prize, II. vi. This Pinck, this painted Foyst, this Cockle-boat.
2. A barge, a small boat used on the river.
1533. Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 18. A barge also of Batchlers of Majors crafte rytchlie behanged with cloath of golde and a foyst to wayte on her.
1616. B. Jonson, Epigr., cxxxiii. Voy. 100. That is when it is the Lord Maiors foist.
