spinster

From Middle English spynnester (“woman who spins fibre”); equivalent to spin +‎ -ster. The semantic development is from a historical notion of unmarried women spinning thread for a living.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈspɪnstə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈspɪnstɚ/

spinster (plural spinsters)

1. (sometimes derogatory) A woman who has never been married, especially one past the typical marrying age according to social traditions.

   Synonym: old maid

   • 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.

• bachelor
• bachelorette
• widow
• divorcee

• spinster on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• Prentiss

From spinnen (“to spin”) +‎ -ster

• Audio

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spinster f (plural spinsters, diminutive spinstertje n)

1. a female spinner