† coisteredadj.
Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a borrowing from French. Perhaps a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymons: French coiste; English *hoistered.
Etymology: Origin and meaning uncertain and disputed. One suggestion (assuming that the underlying sense is ‘cushioned in a feather bed’) sees the word as derived ultimately from Middle French coiste, couste mattress, cushion (see quilt n.1; compare also French coutre , in the same sense (apparently only recorded in Cotgrave 1611)). Another suggestion (assuming the sense is ‘supported’) sees the word as a misprint for *hoistered ‘supported’ (probably < hoist v. + -er suffix5 + -ed suffix1).R. Nares's ( Gloss. (1822)) tentative alternative etymology < French coiter to spur, to incite, to urge on (see quoit n.) does not explain the form of the English word.
Obsolete.
1604 J. Marston & J. Webster (new ed.) v. i. sig. G4v I could haue carried a Lady vp and downe at armes end in a platter; and I can tell you there were those at that time, who to trie the strength of a mans backe, and his arme, would be coisterd.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
adj.1604