Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a dice cheat, thus any cheat (see cite 1565).

1552		G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 24: A jolly fine shift, that properly is called foysting, [...] is nothing else but a sleight to carry easily within the hand as often as the foister lies.
1565		J. Jewel A replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare n.p.: Scoffers, Coggers, Foisters [...] Vaunters, Braggers, Sectaries, Schismatiques.
1598		Florio A vvorlde of wordes 38: Barattiere, [...] a briber, a cheater, a false gamster, a cousener, a broker, a fripper, a chaffrer, a cogger, a foyster, a deceiuer, a coni-catcher.
1608		Dekker Belman of London E3: Foysting : which is nothing else but a sleight to carry Dice easily in the hand so often as the Foister listeth.
1621		R. Brathwaite Natures embassie 254: Oister-callet, slie Vpholster, Hooking Huxster, merrie Malster, Cutting Haxter, courting Roister, Cunning Sharke, nor sharking foister.
1637		W. Camden Britain 10: [They] thinke it to be nothing else, but a ridiculous figment of some craftie foister and jugling deceiver.
1664		T. Killigrew Comedies and tragedies 439: [I] shall to the Guard betray the impostor, and make him in the Galley find my Quondam Father Boat-swain, fit for such a Rogue a Foister.

2. (Und.) a pickpocket.

1574		J. Higgins et al. Mirror for Magistrates (1815) 483: When facing foisters fit for Tiburne fraies, Are food-sick faint, or heart-sick run their waies.
1836		A. Thornton Don Juan in London II 404: His proficiency was rewards by styling him a nypper and a foyster: the former term signifying a pick-purse or cut-purse, and the latter a pick-pocket.
1859		Matsell Vocabulum 35: foyster A pickpocket.

3. one who breaks wind.

1677

G. Miege A new dictionary French and English n.p.: Vesseur (m.) a foister, or a fizzler.