gest

A story or adventure; a verse or prose romance.

The tales of Robin Hood, or the gests written by Ariost the Italian in his booke intituled Orlando furioso.

Who faire them quites, as him beseemed best, And goodly gan discourse of many a noble gest.

An action represented in sports, plays, or on the stage; show; ceremony.

a. 1639, Joseph Mede, a sermon And surely no Ceremonies of dedication , no not of Solomons Temple it self , are comparable to those sacred gests , whereby this place was sanctified

Bearing; deportment.

through his heroic grace and honorable gest

A gesture or action.

They did obeysaunce, as beseemed right, / And then againe returned to their restes: / The Porter eke to her did lout with humble gestes.

more Kings and Princes have written his gestes and actions, than any other historians, of what quality soever, have registred the gests, or collected the actions of any other King or Prince that ever was[…].

Alternative form of gist (“a stop for lodging or rest in a journey, or the place where this happens; a rest”).

[…]Yet of your Royall presence, Ile aduenture / The borrow of a Weeke. When at Bohemia / You take my Lord, Ile giue him my Commission, / To let him there a Moneth, behind the Gest / Prefix'd for's parting: yet (good-deed) Leontes, / I loue thee not a Iarre o'th' Clock, behind / What Lady she her Lord. You'le stay?

A surname.