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https://www.thefreedictionary.com/words-that-end-in-ette

Thanks, MPF (if I may be so bold?)

That was an interesting list, but I enjoyed probing the deepest, darkest corners of my mind to see how many -ettes I could retrieve!

Mathprofrockstar - I'm more likely to get your full name correct! Sorry about the earlier approximation of an abbreviation.

I'd missed your 16.39 comment. Glad you (and Grunger and Rossim) liked my -ette snippet, snippette.

Grunger

If you have the banns read in an Anglican church for three several weeks before you get married, the wording is, or at least used to be, along the lines of

"I publish the banns of marriage between X, bachelor of the parish of Y and Z, spinster of this parish. This is the first time of asking. If any of you know any cause " etc

My guess is these spinsters are not usually old! Just unmarried. I used to think it meant something to do with spinning, which I suppose might be the origin.

Rosalind, the information on the banns was interesting, though it sounds wonderfully archaic with 'bachelor' and 'spinster'! I don't think I've heard either word used in normal conversation, and I'd be quite happy for them to remain in relative obscurity. The Chambers definition of 'spinster' confirms this for me - 'an unmarried woman; an old maid; a woman fit for the spinning house.' And as you said, the spinning lead to the word.

Rosalind

Thanks for the info on banns - I dont think I have ever heard any read.

Malone

I think I am fit for the kitchenette rather than the spinning-house, whatever that is. At cricket I am a spinner, but the odd wag has to refer to a female spinner as a spinster, probably better than a spinneress though.

grunger

I read a report some time ago about a ladies cricket team with a sinister spinster spinner. It might have been you.

Forget 'spinneress'; the entirely acceptable 'seamstress' could have a legitimate bowling connotation in cricket.

Paul

Nice idea but I dont think seamstress and spinster will catch on in cricket. We just say seamer and spinner.

Incidentally, older ladies pronounce it sem-stress here. I dont know about other parts of the country.

jigjag

It wasn't me. I am only 2 of those. I think the "sinister" must apply to left arm bowlers, possibly chinamen.

Grunger

How about Spinneret? Apparently it`s what a spider uses to spin its web - there`s also a Spinnerette - she only bowls in short spells!