noun
webster
WEHBS-tuh
noun
1
An old term for a weaver, originally referring specifically to a woman who wove cloth.
"In medieval records, a "webster" often appeared alongside other trade names like "baker" and "smith"."
How to Use Webster
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn archaic word for someone who weaves cloth for a living, now surviving mainly as a surname.
Memory tip
You will mostly meet this word today as the surname Webster, not as an everyday job title.
Trace the full origin ↓Word Forms
websters plural
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In medieval records, a "_____" often appeared alongside other trade names like "baker" and "smith".
Etymology
From Old English webbestre, the feminine form of webba ("weaver") — the "-ster" ending originally marked a female worker, as in "spinster".