spencer

See also Spencer

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈspɛnsə/
• Rhymes: -ɛnsə(r)

Etymology 1

From the family name Spencer. The jacket is probably named after George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758-1834).

Noun

spencer (plural spencers)

1. A short, close-fitting jacket primarily worn by women and children in the early nineteenth century.
2. A thin knitted woollen vest.
3. A large loose-fitted gaffsail on a square-rigger or barque, used from the nineteenth century onwards.

Etymology 2

Old French despensier. See spence (“buttery”).

Noun

spencer (plural spencers)

1. (archaic) One who has the care of the spence, or buttery.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Promptorium Parvulorum to this entry?)

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

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French

Etymology

From English spencer.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /spɛn.sɛʁ/

Noun

spencer m (plural spencers)

1. spencer (garment)