Gist
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
In pleading. The essential ground or object of the action in point of law, without which there would be no cause of action. Gould, PI. c.
4. § 12; Hathaway v. Rice, 19 Vt. 102.
The gist of an action is the cause for Which an action will lie; the ground or foundation of a suit, without which it would not be maintainable; the essenial ground or object of a suit, and without which there is not a cause of action.
First Nat
Bank v. Burkett, 101 111. 391, 40 Am. Rep. 209; Hoffman v. Knight, 127 Ala. 149, 28 South. 593; Tar-bell v. Tarbell, 60 Vt. 486, 15 Atl. 104.