Obs. [f. FOIST v.1 + -ER1.] One who foists, in senses of the vb. a. One who ‘foists’ dice. b. One who interpolates spurious words or passages, etc. c. A cheat, sharper. d. A pickpocket.
c. 1550. [see FOIST v.1 1].
1566. T. Stapleton, Ret. Untr. Jewel, IV. 36. The whole maner of writing is not as to a Forger, a Foyster or a Cogger, as M. Iewell termeth here the Pope, but in all humilite and reuerentnes.
1585. Fleetwood, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. II. 297–8. He that could take owt a cownter without any noyse, was allowed to be a publique ffoyster.… Nota that a ffoister is a Pick-pockett.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 10. Thinke it to be nothing else, but a ridiculous figment of some craftie foister and jugling deceiver.
1822. Leigh’s New Pict. Lond., 104. The pupil was instructed to take out the silver and counters without gingling the bells, which, when he had accomplished, his proficiency was rewarded by styling him a nypper and a foyster: the former term signifying a pick-purse or cut-purse, and the latter a pickpocket.
