Is 'Seamster' a gender specific noun?
1
At first, I thought seamster is a word used, to address a male person who sews clothes and seamstress is used, to address a female sewer. But there are different explanations online.
FineDictionary and MW are describing seamster as gender-neutral noun.
If these descriptions are correct, what is the male version of seamstress?
Can some one throw light on this topic?
nouns gender-neutral
asked Oct 14 '16 at 14:50
JarvisJarvis
5717
|
show 1 more comment
1
At first, I thought seamster is a word used, to address a male person who sews clothes and seamstress is used, to address a female sewer. But there are different explanations online.
FineDictionary and MW are describing seamster as gender-neutral noun.
If these descriptions are correct, what is the male version of seamstress?
Can some one throw light on this topic?
nouns gender-neutral
asked Oct 14 '16 at 14:50
JarvisJarvis
5717
3
As with many other words (for example: actor, actress), the "masculine" form of the word can be used for either gender. But in this case, the word "tailor" is probably the best; the other terms seem antiquated to me.
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:02
@Laurel, the word tailor is also gender-neutral. Check [this][1] [1][usingenglish.com/forum/threads/…
– Jarvis
Oct 14 '16 at 15:07
1
Some feminine forms of occupational words have long since fallen out of use, e.g. authoress (because it's no longer seen as unusual for a woman to write books). Others, such as actress, are beginning to fall out of use. Seamstress used to be a common word because that type of sewing was traditionally done by women (as distinct from tailoring or sailmaking, done by men). In these days of more gender equality, it would seem quite reasonable to use 'seamster' for both.
– Kate Bunting
Oct 14 '16 at 15:13
@Balu_Madaraju I know it's gender neutral. We don't need to have gender specific words; this fact is reflected in occupational titles that have only been invented recently (programmer, for example).
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:20
1
I have never ever encountered the word seamster; but historically -ster was usually a feminine suffix anyway.
– Colin Fine
Oct 14 '16 at 16:53
|
show 1 more comment
1
1
1
1
At first, I thought seamster is a word used, to address a male person who sews clothes and seamstress is used, to address a female sewer. But there are different explanations online.
FineDictionary and MW are describing seamster as gender-neutral noun.
If these descriptions are correct, what is the male version of seamstress?
Can some one throw light on this topic?
nouns gender-neutral
asked Oct 14 '16 at 14:50
JarvisJarvis
5717
At first, I thought seamster is a word used, to address a male person who sews clothes and seamstress is used, to address a female sewer. But there are different explanations online.
FineDictionary and MW are describing seamster as gender-neutral noun.
If these descriptions are correct, what is the male version of seamstress?
Can some one throw light on this topic?
nouns gender-neutral
nouns gender-neutral
asked Oct 14 '16 at 14:50
JarvisJarvis
5717
asked Oct 14 '16 at 14:50
JarvisJarvis
5717
asked Oct 14 '16 at 14:50
JarvisJarvis
5717
asked Oct 14 '16 at 14:50
JarvisJarvis
5717
asked Oct 14 '16 at 14:50
JarvisJarvis
5717
5717
3
As with many other words (for example: actor, actress), the "masculine" form of the word can be used for either gender. But in this case, the word "tailor" is probably the best; the other terms seem antiquated to me.
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:02
@Laurel, the word tailor is also gender-neutral. Check [this][1] [1][usingenglish.com/forum/threads/…
– Jarvis
Oct 14 '16 at 15:07
1
Some feminine forms of occupational words have long since fallen out of use, e.g. authoress (because it's no longer seen as unusual for a woman to write books). Others, such as actress, are beginning to fall out of use. Seamstress used to be a common word because that type of sewing was traditionally done by women (as distinct from tailoring or sailmaking, done by men). In these days of more gender equality, it would seem quite reasonable to use 'seamster' for both.
– Kate Bunting
Oct 14 '16 at 15:13
@Balu_Madaraju I know it's gender neutral. We don't need to have gender specific words; this fact is reflected in occupational titles that have only been invented recently (programmer, for example).
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:20
1
I have never ever encountered the word seamster; but historically -ster was usually a feminine suffix anyway.
– Colin Fine
Oct 14 '16 at 16:53
|
show 1 more comment
3
As with many other words (for example: actor, actress), the "masculine" form of the word can be used for either gender. But in this case, the word "tailor" is probably the best; the other terms seem antiquated to me.
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:02
@Laurel, the word tailor is also gender-neutral. Check [this][1] [1][usingenglish.com/forum/threads/…
– Jarvis
Oct 14 '16 at 15:07
1
Some feminine forms of occupational words have long since fallen out of use, e.g. authoress (because it's no longer seen as unusual for a woman to write books). Others, such as actress, are beginning to fall out of use. Seamstress used to be a common word because that type of sewing was traditionally done by women (as distinct from tailoring or sailmaking, done by men). In these days of more gender equality, it would seem quite reasonable to use 'seamster' for both.
– Kate Bunting
Oct 14 '16 at 15:13
@Balu_Madaraju I know it's gender neutral. We don't need to have gender specific words; this fact is reflected in occupational titles that have only been invented recently (programmer, for example).
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:20
1
I have never ever encountered the word seamster; but historically -ster was usually a feminine suffix anyway.
– Colin Fine
Oct 14 '16 at 16:53
3
3
As with many other words (for example: actor, actress), the "masculine" form of the word can be used for either gender. But in this case, the word "tailor" is probably the best; the other terms seem antiquated to me.
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:02
As with many other words (for example: actor, actress), the "masculine" form of the word can be used for either gender. But in this case, the word "tailor" is probably the best; the other terms seem antiquated to me.
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:02
@Laurel, the word tailor is also gender-neutral. Check [this][1] [1][usingenglish.com/forum/threads/…
– Jarvis
Oct 14 '16 at 15:07
@Laurel, the word tailor is also gender-neutral. Check [this][1] [1][usingenglish.com/forum/threads/…
– Jarvis
Oct 14 '16 at 15:07
1
1
Some feminine forms of occupational words have long since fallen out of use, e.g. authoress (because it's no longer seen as unusual for a woman to write books). Others, such as actress, are beginning to fall out of use. Seamstress used to be a common word because that type of sewing was traditionally done by women (as distinct from tailoring or sailmaking, done by men). In these days of more gender equality, it would seem quite reasonable to use 'seamster' for both.
– Kate Bunting
Oct 14 '16 at 15:13
Some feminine forms of occupational words have long since fallen out of use, e.g. authoress (because it's no longer seen as unusual for a woman to write books). Others, such as actress, are beginning to fall out of use. Seamstress used to be a common word because that type of sewing was traditionally done by women (as distinct from tailoring or sailmaking, done by men). In these days of more gender equality, it would seem quite reasonable to use 'seamster' for both.
– Kate Bunting
Oct 14 '16 at 15:13
@Balu_Madaraju I know it's gender neutral. We don't need to have gender specific words; this fact is reflected in occupational titles that have only been invented recently (programmer, for example).
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:20
@Balu_Madaraju I know it's gender neutral. We don't need to have gender specific words; this fact is reflected in occupational titles that have only been invented recently (programmer, for example).
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:20
1
1
I have never ever encountered the word seamster; but historically -ster was usually a feminine suffix anyway.
– Colin Fine
Oct 14 '16 at 16:53
I have never ever encountered the word seamster; but historically -ster was usually a feminine suffix anyway.
– Colin Fine
Oct 14 '16 at 16:53
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
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votes
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Seamstress is the term that is still used. It derives from seamster that is quite rare ( see Ngram ) and is gender neutral:
- a woman who can sew and make clothes or whose job is sewing and making clothes. (OLD)
seamstress (n.):
- 1640s, with -ess + seamster (also sempster), from Old English seamestre "sewer, tailor, person whose work is sewing," from seam. Originally indicating a woman, but after a while the fem. ending -estre no longer was felt as such and a new one added.
(Etymonline)
add a comment |
0
A tailor is a very skilled person. Not equivalent to a seamster at all. Seamster is gender neutral. A woman can also be a tailor or a seamstress.
answered yesterday
Angela SaundersAngela Saunders
1
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Angela Saunders is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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2 Answers
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Seamstress is the term that is still used. It derives from seamster that is quite rare ( see Ngram ) and is gender neutral:
- a woman who can sew and make clothes or whose job is sewing and making clothes. (OLD)
seamstress (n.):
- 1640s, with -ess + seamster (also sempster), from Old English seamestre "sewer, tailor, person whose work is sewing," from seam. Originally indicating a woman, but after a while the fem. ending -estre no longer was felt as such and a new one added.
(Etymonline)
add a comment |
2
Seamstress is the term that is still used. It derives from seamster that is quite rare ( see Ngram ) and is gender neutral:
- a woman who can sew and make clothes or whose job is sewing and making clothes. (OLD)
seamstress (n.):
- 1640s, with -ess + seamster (also sempster), from Old English seamestre "sewer, tailor, person whose work is sewing," from seam. Originally indicating a woman, but after a while the fem. ending -estre no longer was felt as such and a new one added.
(Etymonline)
add a comment |
2
2
2
Seamstress is the term that is still used. It derives from seamster that is quite rare ( see Ngram ) and is gender neutral:
- a woman who can sew and make clothes or whose job is sewing and making clothes. (OLD)
seamstress (n.):
- 1640s, with -ess + seamster (also sempster), from Old English seamestre "sewer, tailor, person whose work is sewing," from seam. Originally indicating a woman, but after a while the fem. ending -estre no longer was felt as such and a new one added.
(Etymonline)
Seamstress is the term that is still used. It derives from seamster that is quite rare ( see Ngram ) and is gender neutral:
- a woman who can sew and make clothes or whose job is sewing and making clothes. (OLD)
seamstress (n.):
- 1640s, with -ess + seamster (also sempster), from Old English seamestre "sewer, tailor, person whose work is sewing," from seam. Originally indicating a woman, but after a while the fem. ending -estre no longer was felt as such and a new one added.
(Etymonline)
answered Oct 14 '16 at 15:15
user66974
add a comment |
add a comment |
0
A tailor is a very skilled person. Not equivalent to a seamster at all. Seamster is gender neutral. A woman can also be a tailor or a seamstress.
answered yesterday
Angela SaundersAngela Saunders
1
New contributor
Angela Saunders is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
0
A tailor is a very skilled person. Not equivalent to a seamster at all. Seamster is gender neutral. A woman can also be a tailor or a seamstress.
answered yesterday
Angela SaundersAngela Saunders
1
New contributor
Angela Saunders is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
0
0
0
A tailor is a very skilled person. Not equivalent to a seamster at all. Seamster is gender neutral. A woman can also be a tailor or a seamstress.
answered yesterday
Angela SaundersAngela Saunders
1
New contributor
Angela Saunders is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
A tailor is a very skilled person. Not equivalent to a seamster at all. Seamster is gender neutral. A woman can also be a tailor or a seamstress.
answered yesterday
Angela SaundersAngela Saunders
1
New contributor
Angela Saunders is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
Angela SaundersAngela Saunders
1
New contributor
Angela Saunders is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
Angela SaundersAngela Saunders
1
answered yesterday
Angela SaundersAngela Saunders
1
1
New contributor
Angela Saunders is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Angela Saunders is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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3
As with many other words (for example: actor, actress), the "masculine" form of the word can be used for either gender. But in this case, the word "tailor" is probably the best; the other terms seem antiquated to me.
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:02
@Laurel, the word tailor is also gender-neutral. Check [this][1] [1][usingenglish.com/forum/threads/…
– Jarvis
Oct 14 '16 at 15:07
1
Some feminine forms of occupational words have long since fallen out of use, e.g. authoress (because it's no longer seen as unusual for a woman to write books). Others, such as actress, are beginning to fall out of use. Seamstress used to be a common word because that type of sewing was traditionally done by women (as distinct from tailoring or sailmaking, done by men). In these days of more gender equality, it would seem quite reasonable to use 'seamster' for both.
– Kate Bunting
Oct 14 '16 at 15:13
@Balu_Madaraju I know it's gender neutral. We don't need to have gender specific words; this fact is reflected in occupational titles that have only been invented recently (programmer, for example).
– Laurel
Oct 14 '16 at 15:20
1
I have never ever encountered the word seamster; but historically -ster was usually a feminine suffix anyway.
– Colin Fine
Oct 14 '16 at 16:53