agist, v.
(əˈdʒɪst)
[a. OFr. agister (agîter, agitter), f. à to + gister, gîter to lodge:—L. *jacitā-re, freq. of jacēre to lie (perh. due to phrase à giste). A med.L. formation on the OFr. was adgistāre; cf. also gista, gistum lodging, formed on Fr. giste, n. f. gister.]
1. To take in live stock to remain and feed, at a certain rate; orig. to admit cattle for a defined time into a forest, whence the constructions, to agist cattle, to agist the forest.
| [1224 Chart. Forests (see 1618). 1304 Yearbooks Edw. I, 23 E il agista nos bestis..nos bestis furent agistes par celuy qe l'engistement ad.] 1598 J. Manwood Lawes Forest xi. §1 If a man have common by a specialitie..he may not Agist other mens cattell, there to use his common. 1611 Cotgr., Glandager les porceaux..to agist, or lay, swine in mastie woods. 1618 Pulton Coll. Stat. 7, tr. Chart. Forests ix, Euery Freeman may agest his owne Wood within our Forest [agistet boscum suum in foresta] at his pleasure, and shall take his pawnage. Also we doe grant that euery Freeman may driue his swine freely without impediment through our demesne Woods, for to agest them in their owne Woods [ad agistandum eos in boscis suis propriis]. 1691 Blount Law Dict. s.v., This word Agist is also used for the taking in of other Mens Cattle into any Man's Ground at a certain Rate per week. 1839 T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. 18 Sir Robert & his heirs were also to have the pannage of the swine agisted in their own woods. |
2. intr. Of cattle: To remain and feed for a specified time.
| 1598 J. Manwood Lawes of Forest xi. §1. (1615) 80/2 He..did put his said cattell..into the same close to Agist. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp. s.v., When the lord..takes in other cattle to agist, or feed on it. |
3. By extension, To rate or charge (lands or their owner) with any public burden.
| 1691 Blount Law Dict. s.v., The word Agist is also metaphorically taken for a Charge or Burthen on a thing; e.g. Terrae ad custodiam maris agistatae (Selden Mare clausum 191) [Lands agisted or] charged with a Tribute to keep out the Sea. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. II. xv. 289 The king [Edward I] instituted the system of coastguard..and agisted or rated the land-owners of the maritime counties for its support. |