spencer

The word “spencer” means a short, close-fitting jacket, historically worn by men in the 18th century and later by women and children in the early 19th century. In plain terms, a short fitted jacket from historical fashion, or a small sail on an old sailing ship.

“Spencer” is pronounced SPEHN-suh (/ˈspɛnsə/ in IPA).

Here is “spencer” used in a sentence: “The portrait showed her in a cream spencer over a high-waisted gown.”

“Spencer” is a noun.

The word “spencer” dates back to around 1758. Named after George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758–1834), who is said to have popularized the short jacket style.

“Spencer” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Spencer” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short, close-fitting jacket, historically worn by men in the 18th century and later by women and children in the early 19th century.

The spencer was worn by men in the 18th century and became fashionable for women and children in the early 19th century, during the Regency era. It was a short, close-fitting jacket that ended at or above the waist.

Yes. In sailing, a spencer is a small fore-and-aft sail set on a mast of a square-rigged ship, quite separate from the clothing sense. Context normally makes clear which meaning is intended.

Both are short jackets that end around the waist or higher. A spencer is close-fitting and typically long-sleeved, following the lines of the bodice, while a bolero is usually looser, open at the front, and often worn as a decorative layer.

When it names the garment or the sail, spencer is a common noun and is written in lower case. With a capital letter, Spencer is a personal name, both a surname and a given name, so capitalisation depends on which use you intend.