spinster

Betekenis (Engels)

1. (derogatory, sometimes) A woman who has never been married, especially one past the typical marrying age according to social traditions.
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 spinmeister.
3. (obsolete) Someone whose occupation was spinning thread.
4. (obsolete) A woman of evil life and character; so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction.
5. (dialectal, rare) A spider; an insect (such as a silkworm) which spins thread.

Sinonieme

old maid

bachelor

unmarried woman

spinner

thread maker

widow

unmarried

single

single woman

unmarried person

virgin

maid

single person

feme sole

widower

spin doctor

celibate

maiden

older unmarried woman

Vertalings

solterona

alte Jungfer

zitella

solteirona

vieille fille

solteira

célibataire

kalmış

soltera

oude vrijster

Junggesellin

γεροντοκόρη

unverheiratete Frau

juffrouw

Uitgespreek as (IPA)

/ˈspɪnstə/

Etimologie (Engels)

Geërf van Middle English: spynnestere

In summary

From Middle English spynnestere (“woman who spins fibre”), from c. 1350; equivalent to spin + -ster. The semantic development is from a historical notion of unmarried women spinning thread for a living.