Forms: α. 4 gieste, 4–6 gyste, geste, gyest, 5–6 giste, (5 gyyst), 6 geist, gyst, 6–7 geast(e, 7 geest. β. 7–8 gise (pl. gises, gise, 7 jyce). γ. 5–6 iest(e, 6–7 ieast, 7 Sc. jest, jeist. δ. 5–6 ioyste, 6–7 ioyst, 7 ioist, 7–8 joyst, 7– joist. ε. 6 ioyse (ioysse), 6–7 ioise, ioyce, 7 ioice (iuice), joyse, 7–8 joyce (pl. joyces, joyce), 8 joice. [ME. giste, gyste, a. OF. giste, one of the beams supporting a bridge, in mod.F. gîte one of the small beams supporting a platform for artillery, a bed of mineral, etc., f. OF. gesir (mod.F. gésir):—L. jacēre to lie.
The later form joist has parallels in HOISE, HOIST, FOIST sb.3, and JOIST sb.2. These developments of oi from i are of earlier date than the interchange of əi and oi in boil, bile, etc., and their phonetic history is as yet obscure.]
1. One of the timbers on which the boards of a floor or the laths of a ceiling are nailed, and which themselves stand on edge parallel to each other stretching horizontally from wall to wall, or resting on supporting beams or girders; also, A timber which similarly supports the floor of a platform, a bridge, or other structure.
In a large floor the main joists (binding joists) are sometimes more widely apart, and are crossed by smaller bridging joists which bear the boards of the floor; in such a case there may be light joists beneath to bear the laths (ceiling joists). See also TRIMMING joist.
α. [1294. Pat. Roll 22 Edw. I., m. 3 in Calr. 102. Ad voltam vel gistas.].
1379. Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 100. Pro j gyste pro le flore in clocher—3d.
1448. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), II. 8. The Gistes shall be on the one part squar vj inches and on the other part viij inches.
1535. Coverdale, Jer. xxii. 14. The sylinges and geastes maketh he off Cedre.
a. 1651. Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), III. 77. They drew down manie of Alex Clerks geests lying in the street.
β. 1674. Petty, Disc. Dupl. Proportion, 54. Which saving of stuff is the reason of dividing Plank into Girders, Gise, and Board. Ibid., 17. Gises of 9 inches deep.
1699. Boston Rec. (1881), VII. 237. From out side to out side of the Jyce of said Bridge.
1711. W. Sutherland, Ship-build. Assist., 42. Which Girder contains but half the Stuff of the 17 Gise.
γ. 1413–4. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), II. 441. Item pro xv Jestys longitudinis xiij ped’.
1581. Hull Charterho. Acc., in N. & Q., 6th Ser. VIII. 217/1. 1 ieast, 2 sparres, 1 furdeale.
1673. Wedderburn, Voc. (Jam.), Tignus, a jest.
δ. 1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. cxcvi. 201. Sodenly the ioystes of the lofte fayled, and the people fell downe.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxxv. 150. They came to Poyssey, and founde the brige broken, but the arches and ioystes lay in the ryuer.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 899. Under the next ceiling between the joysts.
1667. Primatt, City & C. Build., 78. The fourth being a Cross Joyst or Girder. Ibid., 81. Binding-Joysts with their Trimming-Joysts, thickness five inches, depth equal to their own floors.
1708. Swift, Baucis & Philemon, 58. The kettle to the top was hoist, And there stood fasten’d to a joist.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 118. When the supporting timbers of a floor are formed by one row laid upon another, the upper row are called bridging joists, and the lower row are called binding joists.
1899. R. Kipling, Stalky & Co., 76. The floor-joists of one room are the ceiling-joists of the room below.
ε. 1570. Levins, Manip., 215/46. Ioyse of a house, trabula.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, II. 125. The tops of these temples … are made of ioises and planks.
1613. Sir R. Boyle, in Lismore Papers (1886), I. 23. I recd out of ffrance … 20 square Ioyce.
1633. T. Stafford, Pac. Hib., III. viii. (1810), 560. To make Ioyces for the platforme.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 43. That the Joyses be framed 21/2 or three Inches under the top of the Summers.
1703. S. Sewall, Diary, 25 Sept. (1879), II. 89. The Beams and Joyce of the old Hall Floor are laid.
† 2. A beam, plank or deal. Obs.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 597. Of gret gestis ane sow thai maid.
1661. Sc. Acts Chas. II. (1814), VII. 252/2. Jeists of oak ilk tuentie peices.
† 3. (See quot. 1598.) Obs.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 85. That the brewars … fill up the vessels after thei be leyde on the gyest.
1552. Huloet, Ioysse, whervpon great vessell are couched, or set, incitega.
1598. Florio, Rincalzo,… a thing laide vnder a barrell to keepe it from rouling or falling…. Some call it a ioyce.
† 4. A mass of mineral in its natural bed. (F. gîte.) Obs.
1829. Glover’s Hist. Derby, I. 101. A quantity of very white, striated or fibrous gypsum is dug in the Chellaston pits, in thin beds, called joists.
5. attrib. and Comb., as joist-hole; † joist-tree, a joist, beam.
1566. in Peacock, Eng. Ch. Furniture (1866), 95. Item the rood lofte sold to Johnne okelye and Robarte harwood and thei haue made a ioyce tree for a chamber.
1886. Mrs. Flor. Caddy, Footsteps Jeanne D’Arc, 109. The joist holes are also visible.
