Westmestre

Middle English

Alternative forms

• Wesminster, Westemester, Westeminster, Westemynster, Westemynstre, Westemyster, Westmenster, Westmenstre, Westmester, Westminstre, Westmunster, Westmunstre, Westmustre, West-mynster, Westmynster, Westmynstere, Westmynstre, Westmynstur, Westmyster

Etymology

From Old English Wæst minstre, West mynstre; equivalent to west +‎ menstre.

Proper noun

Westmestre

1. Westminster
   • 1477, William Caxton, “Et sic est finis”, in The Dictes or Sayengis of the Philosophres, Westminster, London: William Caxton, folio 74, recto:

     Here endeth the book named the dictes or sayengis of the philosophres enprynted. by me william Caxton at westmestre the yere of our lord .M.CCCC.Lxx vij.

     Here ends the book named 'The Dict[ations] or Sayings of the Philosophers Enprinted. By me, William Caxton at Westminster, the Year of Our Lord .M.CCCC.LXX VIJ.'

Descendants

• English: Westminster
• → Latin: Westmonastērium (partial calque)
• → Old French: Westmostier (partial calque)

References

• “West-minster, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.