English playwright (1580-1625)
"The audience praised Webster's dark and macabre tragedies, which established his reputation as a master of English drama."
United States politician and orator (1782-1817)
"The Webster who delivered powerful speeches in Congress during the early 19th century left a lasting legacy as an influential American statesman."
United States lexicographer (1758-1843)
"The entry in Webster's Dictionary was compiled by Noah Webster, the influential American lexicographer who lived from 1758 to 1843."
A weaver (originally, specifically female).
"The young Webster sat by the loom, weaving intricate patterns into the fresh wool."
In plain English: A Webster is an old-fashioned name for someone who works as a dictionary maker, not something you see today.
"The young boy held up his old Webster dictionary to show me how he found new words in school."
Usage: This term refers to an archaic or historical figure and is not used in modern everyday language; you should use the generic terms "weaver," "spinner," or specific gendered nouns like "woman" instead. Avoid using it as a synonym for Webster's Dictionary, which shares no etymological connection despite the similar spelling.
An English occupational surname, from occupations for someone who was a weaver.
"The Webster family name originated because their ancestor worked as a weaver."
The word comes from the Old English term webba, meaning "weaver," which was combined with a suffix to create Middle English forms like webbestere. It entered modern usage as a direct reference to someone who weaves cloth or designs websites.