† ˈkempster Obs.
Forms: 4 keme-, 5 kempstare, kembestere, cem-, kem-, 5–6 kemp-, (7 kemester).
[f. kemb v. + -ster. Cf. MDu. kemster(e.]
A comber (of wool); properly, a female comber.
| a 1400 Burgh Laws c. 103 (Sc. Stat. I.) Gif ony kemestaris levis þe burgh to dwell wyth uplandys men. c 1400 Promp. Parv. 270/2 Kempstare, pectrix. 14.. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 601/10 Pectrix, a kembestere. c 1483 Caxton Dialogues 32/12 Katherin the kempster..swore..That she kembyth never Wulle so well. 1530 Palsgr. 481/1 This felowe chattereth lyke a kempster,..comme vne piegneresse de layne. 1641 Ferguson Sc. Prov. No. 566 Kemsters are ay creishie. |
b. Comb.
| 1356 in Riley Mem. London (1868) 283 [8 pairs of] kemster-combes, [and one] boweshawe, 11d. |