Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to palm a false die so as to be able to introduce it into the game when required.

1545		R. Ascham Toxophilus (1761) I 85: What shift will they make to set the one of them with [...] cogginge, and foystinge.
1552		G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 24: R.: But what shift have they to bring the flat in and out? M.: A jolly fine shift, that properly is called foysting, and it is nothing else but a sleight to carry easily within the hand as often as the foister lies.
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.

2. to cheat by this means; thus foist in v., to introduce a false die surreptitiously when palmed.

1552		G. Walker Detection of Vyle and Detestable Use of Dice Play 29: This young scholar have not so ready and so skilful an eye, to diserne the flat at every time that he is foisted in (for use maketh mastery).
1576		U. Fulwell Art of Flattery 8th dialogue 38: Lo here is cretinsis cum cretense, a cogging knaue with a foysting varlet wel met.
1600		Munday & Drayton Sir John Oldcastle IV i: Sirrah, dost thou not cog, nor foist, nor slur?
1616		W. Haughton English-Men For My Money F2: Hee comes ete vostre, and so foorth, Till he hath foysted in a Brat or two? How then, how then?
a.1618		J. Harington Epigrams I No. 79: Then play thou for a pound, or for a pin, / High men or low men, still are foysted in.

3. to steal, esp. to pick a pocket.

1568		T. Buckley ‘Libel of Oxford’ in May & Bryson Verse Libel 313: In Buffin gownes some cog, some foyst, / Turning all earnest into game.
1584		Three Ladies of London II: Thou doest nothing but cog, lie, and foist with hypocrisie.
1592		Greene Blacke Bookes Messenger 12: She could foyst a pocket well, and get me some pence, and lift nowe and then for a neede.
1610		Rowlands Martin Mark-all 43: Long we cannot foist & nip at last we shal be spyed.
1623		Middleton & Rowley Spanish Gypsy II i: I mean filching, foisting, nimming.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Foyst, to pick a pocket.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.