Meaning

(historical) A short double-breasted men's overcoat worn in the 18th and 19th centuries..

Definitions by Sense

1. (historical) A short double-breasted men's overcoat worn in the 18th and 19th centuries.
2. (historical) A short, close-fitting jacket primarily worn by women and children in the early 19th century.
3. (historical) A (usually woollen) vest worn by women and girls for extra warmth.
4. A large loose-fitted gaffsail on a square-rigger or barque, used from the nineteenth century onwards.

Example Sentences

In order to support and illustrate this assertion, I shall commence my remarks with the spencer, which has often been attacked by satyrical and cynical writers as an absurd and original dress.

To have seen Miss Squeers now, divested of the brown beaver, the green veil, and the blue curl-papers, and arrayed in all the virgin splendor of a white frock and spencer, with a white mulsin bonnet, and an imitative damask rose in full bloom on the inside thereof;

Some wear the tunic of lawn, and the spencer or Turkish robe of silk.

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”.

Word Forms

• spencers

Related Words

When Should You Use Spencer?

Use spencer when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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