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
Ancestry of “gist”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | ġist | — |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | jestu | fermentation; byproducts or agents of... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | jestuz | fermentation; byproducts or agents of... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | yes- | to foam; to boil |
Words derived from “gist”