spinster

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: spin=ster

CIDE DICTIONARY

spinster, n. [Spin + -ster.].

•  A woman who spins, or whose occupation is to spin.  [1913 Webster]

  "She spake to spinster to spin it out."  [1913 Webster]

  "The spinsters and the knitters in the sun."  [1913 Webster]
•  A man who spins.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  An unmarried or single woman; -- used in legal proceedings as a title, or addition to the surname.  [1913 Webster]

  "If a gentlewoman be termed a spinster, she may abate the writ."  [1913 Webster]
•  A woman of evil life and character; -- so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

spinster, n.
1 an unmarried woman.
2 a woman, esp. elderly, thought unlikely to marry.

Derivative

spinsterhood n. spinsterish adj. spinsterishness n.

Etymology

ME, orig. = woman who spins

THESAURUS

spinster

bachelor girl, feme sole, jenny, lone woman, maid, maiden, maiden lady, mule, old maid, silkworm, single girl, spider, spinner, spinning frame, spinning jenny, spinstress, tabby, throstle, vestal, vestal virgin, virgin, ,

ROGET THESAURUS

spinster

Celibacy

N celibacy, singleness, single blessedness, bachelorhood, bachelorship, misogamy, misogyny, virginity, pucelage, maidenhood, maidenhead, unmarried man, bachelor, Coelebs, agamist, old bachelor, misogamist, misogynist, monogamist, monk, unmarried woman, spinster, maid, maiden, virgin, feme sole, old maid, bachelor girl, girl-bachelor, nun, unmarried, unwed, unwedded, wifeless, spouseless, single.