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Rosalind @678, I thought you had hit on another example there with seamstress, until malone came up with seamster. Good point about Eve as temptress. Though it's possible that women are simply more attractive (or devious) than men, but I would say that, wouldn't I? 😊

Seamer brings us back to cricket of course. I am sure jigjag's ladies wouldn't refer to that type of bowler as a seameress.

You are quite right, jono @680. I have just found additional confirmation with the Scrabble Word Checker - PSALTRESS but no PSALTERER.

Curiously HARPIST has no gender distinctions, though I have usually seen the instrument played by women. Harpo Marx is a shining exception, of course.

Malone

What a wonderful day for you. You have done very well to get all those appointments on the same day. I struggle to get an -er, never mind an -ess to do any jobs for me, although British Gas sent a fitteress to service the fire last week. I agree it is a pity that the trades are disappearing particularly your candlestickmakeresses. The local chandleress is closing soon, to be replaced by a bookmakeress.

Paul

I am not sure how the Ladies team refer to seam bowlers, or spinners also. I dont imagine they use the -ess suffix, but I will ask on Sunday when they have their last match of the season.

Psalterer is in the OED but it is rare and historic, apparently.

From today's DT: This is not a communist system where we can try and reign that in.

From my local paper: It's a hotel come cabaret come casino.

Even worse, it actually read: It's a hotel, come, cabaret, come, casino.

Malone
I hope all your female tradesmen turned up yesterday and that you had a good shopping trip. That inspired me to go to town this morning.
A faulty sign in the fishmongers caught my eye so I went inside.
“I see the “X” in your Manx Kippers has come off“ I said to the assistant.
“No, that’s a marketing ploy. They are not from the Isle of Man, but we have to distinguish between male and female fish” she replied. “The missing letter idea has been very successful.”
“I have never thought about the sex of fish, an EU directive I suppose.”
“I don’t know if we still have those, but we have to do the kilograms nonsense” she sighed.
“Why don’t you just call them kippers and kipperesses?” I asked.
“Strangely enough, a Scottish woman came in yesterday and suggested the same thing. She is reforming women and apparently I am a fishmongeress”
I bought 2 pairs for tea.

Did I really hear the word AERIATED on the BBC1 news at 1800h?

Describing concrete in some schools.

John Torode on Masterchef continues to annoy. He's said several things tonight that are just wrong, the highlight being describing someone using the lobster [b[bones to make a stock!

jigjag

I loved your Man(x) kippers story - very clever. Also enjoyed hearing about your recent experiences at the cafe and ladies cricket match.

Malone

Pleased that you have re-formed re -esses. I have enjoyed all those in the Times crossword this year, my favourites being ogress, temptress and dictatress.

Re "Batter"

I agree with the points here about this, but there is something else. The women at my cricket club find the word offensive. It has connotations of wife-battering etc. We have banned the word and after discussions with the men, they have too.

Grunger, lovely to hear from you. I knew you would be delighted with all the 'esses in crossword s- and I'd rather they featured there than in the real world! There was another one for you in a recent crossword - usuress.

I am delighted thar 'batter' is going to be barred, banned, from your cricket club.

Jigjag, thanks for the earlier posts. I've been busy - busy doing nothing - over the past few days, and didn't get round to replying.