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spencer

1 American  
[spen-ser] / ˈspɛn sər /

noun

  1. a short, close-fitting jacket, frequently trimmed with fur, worn in the 19th century by women and children.

  2. a man's close-fitting jacket, having a collar and lapels and reaching just below the waist, worn in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

  3. an English wig of the 18th century.


spencer 2 American  
[spen-ser] / ˈspɛn sər /

noun

Nautical.
  1. a large gaff sail used abaft a square-rigged foremast or abaft the mainmast of a ship or bark.


Spencer 3 American  
[spen-ser] / ˈspɛn sər /

noun

Military.
  1. a .52 caliber, lever-action repeating rifle and carbine patented in the U.S. in 1860 and used by the Union army and navy in the Civil War.


Spencer 4 American  
[spen-ser] / ˈspɛn sər /

noun

  1. Charles, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, 1674–1722, British statesman: prime minister 1718–21.

  2. Herbert, 1820–1903, English philosopher.

  3. Platt Rogers 1800–64, U.S. calligrapher and teacher of penmanship.

  4. a town in NW Iowa.

  5. a town in central Massachusetts.

  6. a male given name.


Spencer 1 British  
/ ˈspɛnsə /

noun

  1. Herbert. 1820–1903, English philosopher, who applied evolutionary theory to the study of society, favouring laissez-faire doctrines

  2. Sir Stanley. 1891–1959, English painter, noted esp for his paintings of Christ in a contemporary English setting

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

spencer 2 British  
/ ˈspɛnsə /

noun

  1. a short fitted coat or jacket

  2. a woman's knitted vest

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

spencer 3 British  
/ ˈspɛnsə /

noun

  1. nautical a large loose-footed gaffsail on a square-rigger or barque

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spencer1

1740–50; spencer 1 in defs. 1, 2 named after G. J. Spencer (1758–1834), English earl; spencer 1 in def. 3 named after Charles Spencer

Origin of spencer2

First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A Tibetan mastiff called Viking, a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Hazel, and miniature schnauzer Spencer were among the six other pooches trying not to look too glum after missing out on the top prize.

From BBC

Spencer Shearer was filling up his Nissan Sentra on Friday morning at the Chevron station in Brentwood near the intersection of San Vicente and Montana avenues and paying a rate higher than almost anywhere else in the country: $5.55 per gallon.

From Los Angeles Times

New gaming chief executive Sharma, who previously oversaw some of the firm's AI initiatives, recently took over from former Xbox boss Phil Spencer.

From BBC

But she will not be the youngest competitor in the field with American teenager Meg Gustafson, who is guided by her older brother Spencer, only 16.

From BBC

Neither Marks and Spencer nor Harrods have put a number on breaches occurring around the same time.

From BBC