whitster Now local.
(ˈhwɪtstə(r))
Forms: 5 whytstar, wytstare, whystare, qwytstare, qwyster, quister, 6 whitstarre, 6– whitster.
[f. white v. + -ster. Cf. Du. witster ‘a Woman that whitens the walls’ (Sewel).]
1. A bleacher.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 39/1 Bleystare, or wytstare (K. bleyster, H. bleyestare or qwytstare, P. bleykester or whytster), candidarius. 1530 Palsgr. 288/2 Whitstarre, blanchisseur de toylles. 1594 Plat Jewell-ho. ii. 58 The whitsters, and dutch laundresses. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iii. iii. 11 Take this basket..and carry it among the Whitsters in Dotchet Mead. 1667 Pepys Diary 12 Aug., My wife and maids being gone over the water to the whitster's with their clothes. 1701 J. Houghton Collect. Improv. Husb. No. 493 ¶5 The Whitsters do use these Pot-Ashes, in the whitening of their Yarn and Cloth. 1881 Instr. Census Clerks (1885) 72 Scourer, Bleacher:..French Cleaner, Whitster. |
2. A whitesmith.
| 1823 E. Moor Suffolk Wds. |
Hence † ˈwhitstered (-əd) a., bleached.
| 1767 Specif. Thos. Long's Patent No. 869 A ‘machine for printing..whitstered linen’. |