Middle English Dictionary Entry
spinnestre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | spinnestre n. Also spinnester(e, spinster(e; pl. spinnesteres, etc. & spinestres. |
| Etymology | From spinnen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A female spinner of thread; (b) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (1380) Sub.R.Oxf.in Rogers Oxf.CDoc.10 : De Alicia Moris, Spynnestere, vj d.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.130 : My wyf..wollene cloþ made, And spak to þe spynstere [vrr. spinster, spynnestre, spynestres, spinsteres; B: spynnesteres; C: spynnesters] to spynnen it softe.
- (1419) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.331 : [Joan de Chedlyngton late his wife,] spynstere, [has the said goods].
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)583/15 : Filatrix: a spynnester.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)86/320a : Filatrix: spynster.
b
- (1367) Cart.St.John in OHS 69155 : Cecilia Spinster.
- (1380) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms204 : Katerina Spynnestere, Anna Spinster.