Foist Definition

foist
foisted, foisting, foists
verb
To pass off as genuine, valuable, or worthy.
American Heritage
To put in slyly or surreptitiously, as a clause into a contract.
Webster's New World
To get (a thing) accepted, sold, etc. by fraud, deception, etc.; palm off.
Webster's New World
To impose (something or someone unwanted) upon another by coercion or trickery.
They had extra work foisted on them because they couldn't say no to the boss.
American Heritage
To insert fraudulently or deceitfully.
Foisted unfair provisions into the contract.
American Heritage
noun

(historical slang) A thief or pickpocket.

Wiktionary
(obsolete) A light and fast-sailing ship.
Wiktionary

Origin of Foist

  • Probably from obsolete Dutch vuisten (“to take into one’s hand”), from Middle Dutch vuysten, from vuyst (“fist”); akin to Old English fyst (“fist”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Probably Dutch dialectal vuisten to take in hand from Middle Dutch from vuist fist penkwe in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Old French fuste (“stick, boat”), from Latin fustis (“cudgel”).

    From Wiktionary

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