Now local. Forms: 5 whytstar, wytstare, whystare, qwytstare, qwyster, quister, 6 whitstarre, 6– whitster. [f. WHITE v. + -STER. Cf. Du. witster ‘a Woman that whitens the walls’ (Sewel).]

1

  1.  A bleacher.

2

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 39/1. Bleystare, or wytstare (K. bleyster, H. bleyestare or qwytstare, P. bleykester or whytster), candidarius.

3

1530.  Palsgr., 288/2. Whitstarre, blanchisseur de toylles.

4

1594.  Plat, Jewell-ho., II. 58. The whitsters, and dutch laundresses.

5

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., III. iii. 11. Take this basket … and carry it among the Whitsters in Dotchet Mead.

6

1667.  Pepys, Diary, 12 Aug. My wife and maids being gone over the water to the whitster’s with their clothes.

7

1701.  J. Houghton, Collect. Improv. Husb., No. 493, ¶ 5. The Whitsters do use these Pot-Ashes, in the whitening of their Yarn and Cloth.

8

1881.  Instr. Census Clerks (1885), 72. Scourer, Bleacher:… French Cleaner, Whitster.

9

  2.  A whitesmith.

10

1823.  E. Moor, Suffolk Words.

11

  Hence † Whitstered a., bleached.

12

1767.  Specif. Thos. Long’s Patent, No. 869. A ‘machine for printing … whitstered linen.’

13