webster en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈwɛbstə/ (UK)
Etymology
From Middle English webbestere, webster, from Old English webbestre, feminine form of webba (“weaver”). Compare web, weave, and -ster.
Meanings
-
(historical) A weaver (originally, specifically female).
A Derbyshire webster who proposed to cure a lunatic with a paper charm in the reign of Charles I demanded £3 down, and £3 more when the patient was cured.
1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society, published 2012, page 242:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| websters | Number=Plur | lexicographic |