spencer
spencer Lexical Profile
spencer Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A short, close-fitting, waist-length jacket without tails, originally worn by men in the late 18th century and later adopted as a popular women's outer garment during the Regency era; also, a warm woolen or knitted undershirt worn mainly by women and children.
"The museum's Regency costume collection features a high-waisted muslin gown paired with a dark velvet spencer."
A fore-and-aft sail, specifically a gaff-rigged trysail, set abaft the foremast or mainmast of a square-rigged sailing vessel.
"As the gale intensified, the crew furled the square mainsail and hoisted the heavy canvas spencer to steady the ship."
A steward, butler, or household official in a medieval noble manor or monastery responsible for the buttery, cellar, and the dispensing of provisions (historical).
"In the medieval abbey, the spencer kept careful tallies of every loaf of bread and cask of ale distributed from the larder."
• Rhymes for spencer
Word Origin & Etymology
The garment is named after George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758–1834), who popularized the waist-length coat in the 1790s after reportedly having the tails of his coat burned off by accident. The earlier medieval household official sense derives from Middle English 'spenser', a shortening of 'dispenser' (from Anglo-Norman 'despenser', meaning one who dispenses provisions).