A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Geist, n. Also: gist, geest, geast, gaist. [ME. gieste, geste (cf. Gest n.2), varr. of giste, gyste (1379), OF. giste, one of the beams supporting a bridge. See also Jeist, Jest.] A joist.(a) 1482 Edinb. Chart. 168.
Of ilk greit geist or- dormound … j obl. Of smallare geistis, iij d. of the dosane 1492 Treas. Acc. I. 204.
Fifty geistis and tuelf gret sparris … vnput in werk 1512–3 Ib. IV. 473.
To the wrychtis … that helpit to skwich the ij greit geistis to mak plankis of 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. II. .
For sawing of buirds and geists to the bak of workbands 1557–8 Ib. I. 250.
Thre gryt crampatts of irne to put in the grit geist 1587 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 288.
To mak tua grytt holis … to put ane brydill in to hald up the end of the geist the townis bell hingis on 1639 Chapel Royal cciii.
To George Tulloch, sawar, and his marrow, for v draucht of geistis to the chapell 1644 Spalding II. 398.
Doctour Guild fullie set to distroy the bischopis hous, … and to brak doun the gryte geistis 1678 Alford Rec. 290.
The third geist of the common loft(b) 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 331.
To the wrichtis … at the vpdrawing of the geest in the Chapel of Striuelin a1651 Calderwood III. 77.
They drew doun manie of Alexander Clerk's geests lying in the street(c) 1563–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 452.
Ane fir gist and ane braid daill … to be ane burd 1594–5 Ayr Common Good MS.
Twa gistis and twa sparris to be ane kippill abone the miln(d) a 1605 Birrel Diary 35.
The said baillie and officers tooke ane geast and rane at the back dore with the geast 1618 M. Works Acc. XV. ii. 47.
To the meassonis … quhen they laid on the lintellis vnder the heighest gaistes
