Gist (j&ibreve_;st), n. [OF. giste abode, lodgings, F. gîte, fr. gésir to lie, L. jacēre, prop., to be thrown, hence, to lie, fr. jac&ebreve_;re to throw. In the second sense fr. OF. gist, F. gît, 3d pers. sing. ind. of gésir to lie, used in a proverb, F., c'est là que gît le lièvre, it is there that the hare lies, i. e., that is the point, the difficulty. See Jet a shooting forth, and cf. Agist, Joist, n., Gest a stage in traveling.] 1. A resting place. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]

These quails have their set gists; to wit, ordinary resting and baiting places. Holland.
[1913 Webster]

2. The main point, as of a question; the point on which an action rests; the pith of a matter; as, the gist of a question.
[1913 Webster]