shapester

English

Alternative forms

• shepster

Etymology

From Middle English shapster (“one who cuts; barber; tailor”), equivalent to shape +‎ -ster.

Noun

shapester (plural shapesters)

1. (archaic, historical) A seamstress; dressmaker; tailor
   • 1879, House Documents, Otherwise Publ. as Executive Documents: 13th Congress, 2d Session-49th Congress, 1st Session, Volume 1:

     In Donegal the fabrics are made up in the cottages, where also the garments are shaped with such skill and fancy as may by chance pertain to the untaught shapester.

   • 1905, Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine:

     It was the era of homespun industries; the days of websters, shapesters, litsters, brewsters, baxters and spinsters, the weaving, cutting, dyeing, brewing, baking and spinning falling naturally into woman's hands and necessitating terms showing that there were feminine duties.

2. One who changes shape; shapeshifter

Anagrams

• asperseth, spreathes, set phrase, rapsheets, rap sheets