spencer

plural spencers

1. historicalA short double-breasted men's overcoat worn in the 18th and 19th centuries.
2. historicalA short, close-fitting jacket primarily worn by women and children in the early 19th century.

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

   1800, “Parisian Fashions”, in The Lady's Magazine, page 254

   2 more examples

   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.

   1799, D.D., “To the Editor”, in The Scots Magazine, volume 61, page 677

   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;

   1799, Sir Francis d' Ivernois, Historical and Political Survey of the Losses Sustained by ..., page 97

3. historicalA (usually woollen) vest worn by women and girls for extra warmth.

   1 more example

   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”.

   1933, Vera Brittain, Testament of Youth, Penguin, published 2005, page 34

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

plural Spencers · alternative Spenser

1. countableAn English surname originating as an occupation.

   1 more example

   Other groups have different messages: the National Policy Institute, fronted by Richard Spencer and designed to “elevate the consciousness of whites”; the Occidental Quarterly, run by CMS member Kevin MacDonald and presenting itself as a scholarly journal; American Third Position, later rebranded as the American Freedom Party, led by Johnson with “a platform that is predicated on the preservation of our traditional European roots.”

   2022 May 20, Elle Reeve, “How White ‘replacement theory’ evolved from elderly racists to teens online to the alleged inspiration for another racist mass homicide”, in CNN

   Synonyms: Spenser

2. A unisex given name.
   1. countableuncountableA male given name transferred from the surname, of general 19th century and later usage.

      Later, a 'person of interest' was said to be in custody in connection with Kirk's shooting, Utah governor Spencer Cox announced Wednesday evening.

      2025 September 10, Joe Hutchison, “Tragedy as Charlie Kirk's wife left behind with two young children after conservative activist is fatally shot”, in Daily Mail

   2. countableuncountableA female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.
3. A placename:
   1. countableuncountableA suburb of Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia; probably named for British politician George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer.
   2. countableuncountableA hamlet in Clark County, Idaho.
   3. countableuncountableA town, the county seat of Owen County, Indiana; named for Indiana militia officer Spier Spencer.
   4. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Clay County, Iowa.
   5. countableuncountableA town in Worcester County, Massachusetts; named for Massachusetts governor Spencer Phips.
   6. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Missouri; named for a local merchant.
   7. countableuncountableA village in Nebraska; perhaps named for Alabama statesman George E. Spencer.
   8. countableuncountableA town and village in Tioga County, New York; named for New York statesman Ambrose Spencer.
   9. countableuncountableA town in North Carolina; named for railroad executive Samuel Spencer.
   10. countableuncountableA village in Ohio.
   11. countableuncountableA city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.
   12. countableuncountableA city in South Dakota; named for railroad official H. Spencer.
   13. countableuncountableA town, the county seat of Van Buren County, Tennessee; named for longhunter Thomas Sharp Spencer.
   14. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Virginia; named for first settler James Spencer Jr.
   15. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Roane County, West Virginia.
   16. countableuncountableA town and village in Wisconsin; named for the town in Massachusetts.
   17. countableuncountableA number of townships in the United States, listed under Spencer Township.
   18. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountableEllipsis of Spencer County.
4. countableuncountableAn English earldom.