throwster
(ˈθrəʊstə(r))
Forms: 5 throwestre, -er, 6 throwstar, (7–8 throster), 7– throwster.
[f. throw v.1 6 b + -ster.]
1. One who twists silk fibres into raw silk or raw silk into thread, a silk-throwster; originally, a woman who did this, a silk-woman (the earliest term). † Also extended to a worsted-spinner (obs.).
| 1455 Rolls of Parlt. V. 325/1 The Silkewymmen and Throwestres of the Craftes and occupation of Silkewerk. 1530 Palsgr. 281/1 Throwstar, deuideresse de soye. 1620 Middleton & Rowley World Tost at Tennis 95 Job a venerable silk-weaver, Jehu a throwster dwelling i' the Spitalfields. 1678 Phillips (ed. 4), Throster, one that twisteth Silk or Thred. 1716 Lond. Gaz. No. 5401/4 A Worsted-Throwster by Trade. 1734 Swift Compl. Deafness 16 A woman's clack, if I have skill, Sounds somewhat like a throwster's mill. 1846 M{supc}Culloch Acc. Brit. Empire (1854) I. 713 The throwsters of the metropolis were formed into a fellowship in 1562, but they were not incorporated till 1629. 1880 C. M. Mason Forty Shires 95 English throwsters did their work as well as those of Italy. |
2. Pottery. = thrower 1 b: see quot. (? error).
| 1894 H. Speight Nidderdale 384 note, Throwsters and drysters were potters' craftsmen; the throwster being the man who works the wheel, and..forms by the pressure of his hand the ‘lining’ for the dish or cup. |
† 3. A dice-thrower, a gamester. Obs. rare.
| 1832 J. Wilson Noct. Ambr. in Blackw. Mag. Sept. 388 A certain bold throwster had swept the pool. |