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Webster 1913 Edition

Spinster

Spin′ster

,
Noun.
[
Spin
+
-ster
.]
1.
A woman who spins, or whose occupation is to spin.
She spake to
spinster
to spin it out.
Piers Plowman.
The
spinsters
and the knitters in the sun.
Shakespeare
2.
A man who spins.
[Obs.]
Shak.
3.
(Law)
An unmarried or single woman; – used in legal proceedings as a title, or addition to the surname.
If a gentlewoman be termed a
spinster
, she may abate the writ.
Coke.
4.
A woman of evil life and character; – so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Spinster

SPIN'STER

,
Noun.
[spin and ster.]
1.
A woman who spins, or whose occupation is to spin. Hence,
2.
In law, the common title by which a woman without rank or distinction is designated. If a gentlewoman is termed a spinster, she may abate the writ.

Definition 2024

spinster

spinster

English

Noun

spinster ‎(plural spinsters)

  1. (dated) A woman who has never been married, especially one past the typical marrying age according to social traditions.
    • Coke
      If a gentlewoman be termed a spinster, she may abate the writ.
  2. One who spins (puts a spin on) a political media story so as to give something a favorable or advantageous appearance; a spin doctor, spin merchant or spin master.
  3. (obsolete) Someone whose occupation was spinning thread.
    • ~1601, William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night , act II, scene IV:
      The spinsters and the knitters in the sun.
  4. (obsolete) A woman of evil life and character; so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction.
  5. (rare) A spider; an insect (such as a silkworm) which spins thread.

Synonyms

Translations

one who spins a political media story

See also

Dutch

Pronunciation

Etymology

From spinnen ‎(“to spin”) +‎ -ster

Noun

spinster f ‎(plural spinsters, diminutive spinstertje n)

  1. a female spinner

Etymology

From spin +‎ -ster, from a historical notion of unmarried women spinning thread for a living.

Pronunciation

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