SPINSTER


Meaning of SPINSTER in English

ˈspinztə(r), -n(t)stə- noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English spinnestere, from spinnen to spin + -estere -ster

1.

a. : a woman whose occupation is to spin

b. obsolete : a man whose trade is spinning

2.

a. archaic : an unmarried woman of gentle family

b. : an unmarried woman — often used as a legal term

3. : a woman past the common age for marrying or one who seems unlikely to marry — called also old maid

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.