For merely general readers Buchon's or Michaud's editions of Joinville will amply suffice. Both include translations into modern French, which, however, are hardly necessary, for the language is very easy. Natalis de Wailly's editions of 1868 and particularly 1874 are critical editions, embodying the modern research connected with the text, the value of which is considerable, but contestable. They are accompanied by ample annotations and appendices, with illustrations of great merit and value. Much valuable information appeared for the first time in the edition of F. Michel (1859). To these may be added A. F. Didot's _Études sur Joinville_ (1870) and H. F. Delaborde's _Jean de Joinville_ (1894). A good sketch of the whole subject will be found in Aubertin's _Histoire de la langue et de la littérature françaises au moyen âge_, ii. 196-211; see also Gaston Paris, _Litt. française au moyen âge_ (1893), and A. Debidour, _Les Chroniqueurs_ (1888). There are English translations by T. Johnes (1807), J. Hutton (1868), Ethel Wedgwood (1906), and (more literally) Sir F. T. Marzials ("Everyman's Library," 1908). (G. Sa.) JOIST, in building, one of a row or tier of beams set edgewise from one wall or partition to another and carrying the flooring boards on the upper edge and the laths of the ceiling on the lower. In double flooring there are three series of joists, _binding_, _bridging_, and _ceiling_ joists. The binding joists are the real support of the floor, running from wall to wall, and carrying the bridging joists above and the ceiling joists below (see CARPENTRY), The Mid. Eng. form of the word was _giste_ or _gyste_, and was adapted from O. Fr. _giste_, modern _gîte_, a beam supporting the platform of a gun. By origin the word meant that on which anything lies or rests (_gésir_, to lie; Lat. _jacere_). The English word "gist," in such phrases as "the gist of the matter," the main or central point in an argument, is a doublet of joist. According to Skeat, the origin of this meaning is an O. Fr. proverbial expression, _Je sçay bien où gist le lièvre_, I know well where the hare lies, i.e. I know the real point of the matter.