English

Proper noun

Spencer

1. A surname​.
2. A male given name transferred from the surname, in general use since the nineteenth century.
3. A female given name
4. A city in Idaho.
5. A town and county seat in Indiana.
6. A city and county seat in Iowa.
7. A town in Massachusetts.
8. A village in Nebraska.
9. A town and village in New York.
10. A town in North Carolina.
11. A village in Ohio.
12. A city in Oklahoma.
13. A city in South Dakota.
14. A town and county seat in Tennessee.
15. A city and county seat in West Virginia.
16. A town and village in Wisconsin.

English

Noun

spencer ‎(plural spencers)

1. (now historical) A short double-breasted men's overcoat worn in the 18th and 19th centuries.
2. (now historical) A short, close-fitting jacket primarily worn by women and children in the early nineteenth century.
3. (now historical) A (usually woollen) vest worn by women and girls for extra warmth.
   • 1933, Vera Brittain, Testament of Youth, Penguin 2005, p. 34:

     I am seized with an angry resentment against the conventions of twenty years ago, which wrapped up my comely adolescent body in woollen combinations, black cashmere stockings, “liberty” bodice, dark stockinette knickers, flannel petticoat and often, in addition, a long-sleeved, high-necked, knitted woollen “spencer”.

4. A large loose-fitted gaffsail on a square-rigger or barque, used from the nineteenth century onwards.

Etymology 2

Old French despensier. See spence ‎(“buttery”).

Noun

spencer ‎(plural spencers)

1. (archaic) One who has the care of the spence, or buttery.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Promptorium Parvulorum to this entry?)

French

Etymology

From English spencer.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spɛn.sɛʁ/

Noun

spencer m ‎(plural spencers)

1. spencer (garment)