▪ I. worsted, n.
(ˈwʊstɪd)
Forms: α. 3–4 worth-, 4 wurthstede, worthested(e, wortestede; 3 wr-, 4–5 wurstede, 6 -steede, 5–6 wursted (5 -stet); 4–5 wirsted, 6 wyrsted, 5 werstede; 4–6 worstede (5 wore-), 4– worsted (4 -seted, 6 -stedd, -styd; 5 -stet, 6 -stett; 6 vorsted), 5 worsteyd, 6 -steid; 6–8 worstead; 6 woorstred, 7 -sted, -stead. β. 5–6 wolsted(e, 6 wullstid, ulsted, 7 wolsteed, 6, 8 woolsted. γ. 5–6 wusted, 5–7 wosted, 6–8 woosted. δ. Sc. and north. dial. 4, 6–7, 9 worset, 4, 6– 7 worsett, 7 worssett; 5–6 worsat, 6 worsatt, -ait, 9 wurset, -it, wossat, wusset; 4 wirset, 5 wirssat, 6 wirsait; 5 wersed.
[From the name of a parish in Norfolk, north of Norwich, originally (OE.) Wurðestede, later Wurthstede, Worthsted, etc., and now written Worstead.]
† 1. (Anglo-Latin) pannus, (Anglo-French) drap, de Wurthstede, etc.: = sense 2. Obs.
| 1296 Cal. Close Rolls (1904) 511 Pannum de Worthstede. 1301 Let. Pat. 4 Oct. in Northampton Bor. Rec. (1898) I. 59 De quolibet panno de wurthstede qui vocatur coverlit. 1328 Rolls of Parlt. II. 28/1 Ses poueres..Overours des Draps de Wurthstede en le Counte de Norff. 1347 Ibid. 168/2 Pur Draps de Worstede une novelle Custume levee. 1350 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 173 In 11 pannis de nigro worseto. 1402–3 Ibid. 182 In tribus pannis de wirsted. 1442–3 Ibid. 185 In 1 panno nigro de worestede. |
2. a. A woollen fabric or stuff made from well-twisted yarn spun of long-staple wool combed to lay the fibres parallel.
| α 1293 in Camden Misc. II. 13 Pro xj. ulnis de wrstede ad caligas faciendas. 1345–9 in Archaeologia XXXI. 78 Eidem ad vnam aulam de worstede operatum cum papagailles. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 262 Of double worstede was his semycope. 1393–4 Act 17 Rich II, c. 2 Les Marchants & overours de draps appelez sengle Worstede. 1411 E.E. Wills (1882) 19 Also y be-queythe to Robert, myn heldest son, a reed bedde of worsteyd. 1459 Paston Lett. I. 478 Item, j pece of grene wurstet xxx yards longe. 1465 Ibid. (1904) IV. 201 A coverlyte of whyte werstede longyng therto. 1535 in Archaeologia IX. 249 A dubblette of wursteede. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 61 b, Within hys gate..dwelled dyuerse Frenchmen that Kalendred Worsted, contrary to the kynges lawes. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. 475 They obtained..that the Worsted made there [at Norwich] might be transported. a 1661 Fuller Worthies, Norf. (1662) 247 It surpasseth my skill to name the several stuffs (being Worsted disguised with Weaving and Colouring) made thereof. 1728 Pope Dunc. ii. 150 The very worstead still look'd black and blue. 1771 E. Haywood New Present for Maid 258 Directions for cleaning of Worsted and other Sorts of Stuffs. 1886 Beck Draper's Dict. 373 Worsted, cloth of long stapled-wool, combed straightly and smoothly, as distinct from woollens, which are woven from short staple wool, crossed and roughed in spinning. |
| β 1436 Nottingham Rec. II. 152 Unum cowle de nigro wolstede. 1551–2 Act 5 & 6 Edw. VI, c. 7 §1 Any kynde of Clothe Chamlettes Wolstede Sayes [etc.]. 1598 Stow Surv. 76 His guarde..all in a Liuery of Wolsted. |
| γ 1440 in Peacock Eng. Ch. Furniture (1866) 182 A vestment of Black wosted. 1481–90 Howard Househ. Bks. (Roxb.) 38 A piece wusted iij. yerdes deppe, for stremers and standartes. 1537 in Glasscock Rec. St. Michael's, Bp.'s Stortford (1882) 126 Item a vestment of grene wusted w{supt} an obe. 1556 Towrson's 1st Voy. in Hakluyt (1589) 108 They shewed vs a certaine course cloth,..it was course wooll, and a small threed, and as thicke as wosted. 1607 R. C[arew] tr. Estienne's World Wond. 235 Sleeues.., one halfe of woosted, the other of veluet. |
| δ 1350 [see 1]. 1375 Exch. Rolls Scot. II. 505 Per empcionem de xij ulnis cum dimidio de wirset. 1436 Registr. Aberdon. (Maitl. Club) II. 148 Vnum vestimentum integrum de nigro wersed. 1483 Acta Auditorum (1839) *112/1 A couering of Inglis worsat. 1520–1 Fabric Rolls York Minster (Surtees) 305 One vestment of blacke worsett. 1565 in Hay Fleming Reform. Scot. (1910) 610 Ane baithky{supt} [sic] of roich worsat, to ly under nobillis feit. 1612 Sc. Bk. Rates in Halyburton's Ledger (1867) 289 Beltis..of worsett the groce, viij li. |
b. With
pl. A particular variety of this fabric.
| 1314–5 Rolls of Parlt. I. 292/2 Draps qe homme appele Worthstedes & Aylehames. 1348 in Rymer Fœdera (1708) V. 618 Stapula..aliorum Pannorum de Worstedes. 1393 Pat. Roll 16 Rich. II, ii. 28 Feb., Pro mercatoribus et operatoribus de worstedes. 1442 Rolls of Parlt. V. 60/2 Persones that maken untrewe ware of all maner Worstedes. 1471 Paston Lett. III. 14 A Worsted man of Norffolk, that solde worstedys at Wynchester. 1541–2 Act 33 Hen. VIII, c. 16 §2 The makinge and weavinge of worstedes and other clothes. 1573–80 Baret Alv. V 92 As if a man should carrie Mockadoes and woolsteds to be sold at Norwich. 1603 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. 27 They inuented..the making of tapestrie, saies, searges, wosteds, russets. 1853 Ure Dict. Arts II. 833 The class of goods technically distinguished as ‘woollens’ in distinction to ‘worsteds.’ 1895 Daily News 13 Sept. 5/3 The revival is more apparent in the production of the higher class of goods known as worsteds than in that known as woollens. |
c. ellipt. for a garment made of worsted cloth; a worsted jacket or suit.
| 1962 L. Deighton Ipcress File i. 9, I struggled into the dark worsted and my only establishment tie. 1972 K. Bonfigioli Don't point that Thing at Me iii. 20, I put on a dashing little tropical-weight worsted, curly-brimmed coker and a pair of buckskins. 1975 Times 8 Jan. 12/7 Behaving in a manner more suited to the canvas jacket than the charcoal-grey worsted. |
3. A closely twisted yarn made of long-staple wool in which the fibres are arranged to lie parallel to each other. Later, a fine and soft woollen yarn used for knitting and embroidery (
cf. wool n. 3 b).
| 1465 Paston Lett. II. 235, I pray yow ye woll send me hedir ij. clue of worsted for dobletts, to happe me thys cold wynter. 1546 Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1844) I. 236 Ane grit buyst, and certane kemmis, worsettis, spectikyllis, and wther small geir in it. 1612 Sc. Bk. Rates in Halyburton's Ledger (1867) 296 Sewing worssett. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 143 Their loom stands before them, and in their left hand they have several ends of round bottoms of Woorstead of many colours, which they place in their several places. 1709 Phil. Trans. XXVIII. 265 She being a Spinner of Yarn or Woosted. a 1745 Swift Story Injured Lady (1746) 7 If a Tenant carried but..an Inch of Worsted to mend his Stockings, he should forfeit his whole Parcel. 1784 Adam Smith W.N. iv. viii. (1793) II. 507 Woollen yarn and worsted are prohibited to be exported under the same penalties as wool. 1841 Barham Ingol. Leg., Nell Cook Scene, Mrs. John Ingoldsby at the table, busily employed in manufacturing a cabbage-rose..in many-coloured worsteds. 1854 Surtees Handley Cr. lx. (1901) II. 152 The young ones sought out their threads and their worsteds to work her a collar or a piece of crochet work each. 1889 Hardwicke's Sci.-Gossip XXV. 134 The syphon, which may consist of a single thread of wool or worsted. |
4. attrib. or adj. Made of worsted or worsted yarn; said of cloth, thread, garments, etc.; also in specific names of fabrics or materials, as
worsted braid,
worsted damask, etc.
| 1410 Rolls of Parlt. III. 637/2 Les Worstedes appelez Worsted-beddes, doubles, & sengles. 1492 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 202 For ij dowbil wirssat beltis til him, price iij s. 1502 Ibid. II. 198 For iiij elne worsait ribane to cord the said goune. 1533 Test. Ebor. VI. 43 A wolsted dublet. 1566 in Peacock Eng. Ch. Furniture (1866) 67 Item iij worsted copes. 1589 Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 74 Spangled like to the woosted stockings of Saturne. 1605 P. Erondelle Fr. Gard. D 8 b, I will haue no woorsted hosen. 1647 Herrick Noble Numb., Widow's Tears iv, The woosted thred Is cut, that made us clothing. 1720 T. Gordon Humourist I. 45 Renouncing his Buckles and conforming to Woolsted-Tapes. 1748 Smollett Rod. Rand. xvii, His white silk stockings were converted into black worsted hose. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth vi, The thumb of his mother's worsted glove might hold the treasure of the whole clan. 1843 Penny Cycl. XXVII. 555/2 Worsted shag [is made] at Banbury and Coventry. 1858 Lytton What will He do? i. vi, Two small worsted rugs. 1878 M. E. Braddon Eleanor's Vict. ii, Voluminous worsted curtains falling before the narrow windows. 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework 524 Worsted Braids...Worsted Damasks. |
| Comb. 1767 Ann. Reg. 158 The looms of a worsted-lace-weaver. |
5. Simple
attrib. and adjective comb., as
worsted-breaker,
worsted-comber,
worsted-dealer,
worsted-factory,
worsted machinery,
worsted-maker,
worsted-making,
worsted manufacture,
worsted-manufacturer,
worsted merchant,
worsted mill,
worsted repository,
† worsted-shearing,
† worsted shearman,
worsted-spinner,
worsted-spinning,
worsted-throwster,
worsted trade,
worsted-weaver,
worsted-weaving;
worsted work, embroidery done with worsted yarn on canvas; an example of this; hence
worsted-worked a.| 1835 Ure Philos. Manuf. 217 These two endless chains pass over fluted guide-rollers (like those more obviously seen in the *worsted-breaker). |
| 1702 in P. Wright New Bk. Martyrs (1784) 808/1 William Hussey, a *worsted comber. |
| 1830 Parson & White Directory Leeds etc. 426 *Worsted Dealers. |
| 1843 Penny Cycl. XXVII. 554/1 A *worsted factory in the north. |
| 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 2819 *Worsted machinery. |
| 1538 Starkey England i. iii. 95 Weuerys, *worstyd-makyrs, tukkarys and fullarys. |
| 1534 Act 26 Hen. VIII, c. 16 §5 The said mysterie and occupacion of *Worsted makinge. |
| 1805 J. Luccock Wool 156 The state of the *worsted manufacture. |
| 1736 in Rec. Convent. Royal Burghs Scot. (1885) V. 604 The case of the silk and *worset manufacturers. 1801 T. Peck Norwich Directory 11 Crowe William, Worsted-Manufacturer. |
| 1481 Paston Lett. III. 278 One Bolt, a *worstede marchaunt. 1880 Goldw. Smith Cowper vii. 100 The letter slides from spiritual despair to the worsted-merchant. |
| 1836 W. White Hist. etc. Norf. 96 Two *worsted mills at Norwich. |
| 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, *Worsted-repository,..a shop where fancy knitting-wools are sold. |
| 1503–4 Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 17 §1 The *Worsted Sheremen wythin the seid Citie..have chosen Wardens of *Worsted sheryng. |
| 1830 Parson & White Directory Leeds 171 *Worsted spinners. |
| 1895 Daily News 21 June 2/2 The *worsted-spinning business of Henry Pease and Company. |
| 1716 Lond. Gaz. No. 5401/4 A *Worsted-Throwster by Trade. |
| 1835 Ure Philos. Manuf. 68 The *worsted trade of England. |
| 1442 Rolls of Parlt. V. 60/2 The craft of *Worsted Wevers. 1707 Lond. Gaz. No. 4319/4 George Durant, of the City of Norwich, Worsted-Weaver. |
| c 1702 C. Fiennes Journeys (1947) 277 One with a half bedstead as the new mode, dimity with fine shades of *worsted works well made up. 1826 M. Wilmot Let. 25 Sept. (1935) 250, I do worsted work..but..my eyes are too weak to count the threads of any but coarse canvas... What do you make of yours? Foot stools! cushions! bell pulls! 1888 Mrs. H. Ward Robert Elsmere I. i. x. 280 His wife, whose head was bent close over her worsted work. |
| 1853 Mrs. Gaskell Cranford viii. 116 Carlo lay on the *worsted-worked rug. |
▪ II. worsted, ppl. a. (
ˈwɜːstɪd)
[f. worst v. + -ed.] Defeated.
| 1690 Child Disc. Trade (1698) 198 The worsted party, by the fate of war, being deprived of their estates. 1780 S. J. Pratt Emma Corbett (ed. 4) II. 52 The general on the worsted side affected to be dismayed. 1812 J. & H. Smith Rej. Addr. i. (1873) 6 God bless the guards, though worsted Gallia scoff. 1869 Gladstone Juventus Mundi iii. 84 A place of refuge for fugitives, and for the worsted party expelled from other portions of Greece. |
| absol. 1855 Browning Old Pictures in Florence xiv, To submit is the worsted's duty. |