Where does “gist” come from?

gist (Middle English) comes from Old English ġist, from Proto-West Germanic jestu, from Proto-Germanic jestuz, from Proto-Indo-European yes- — to foam; to boil.

gist (Middle English): Alternative form of gest

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of gest

Ancestry of “gist”, step by step

gist traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old English ġist

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishġist
2Proto-West Germanicjestufermentation; byproducts or agents of...
3Proto-Germanicjestuzfermentation; byproducts or agents of...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanyes-to foam; to boil

via Old English ġyst

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishġyst
Every word from Proto-Indo-European yes-Every word from Proto-Germanic jestuzEvery word from Proto-West Germanic jestu