Now only U.S. Also 7 linkister, 8 languister, 9 lingster, linkster. [f. prec. + -ER1.]
1. An interpreter; = LINGUIST 2.
a. 1649. Winthrop, New Eng. (1826), II. 237. He, being linkister (because he could speak the language).
1713. in G. Sheldon, Hist. Deerfield (Mass.) (1895), I. 350. J Jmployed my Indian Languister to talk to her.
1760. Lett. to Gov. Fort St. George, in A. Dalrymple, Oriental Repertory (1793), I. 396. I was no furth concerned, than as a Linguister for the King’s Officer, who commanded the Party.
1840. J. F. Cooper, Pathfinder, xiii. On the Atlantic … where a seafaring-man has occasion sometimes to converse with a pilot or a linguister in that language [French].
1885. H. M. Stanley, Congo, I. 123. Massalla, the lingster of Chinsalla village.
1889. F. R. Goulding, Marooner’s Isl. (1890), 65. Linkster … is a word in common use in many parts [of Georgia and Florida], being a corruption of linguister, and means interpreter.
¶ 2. nonce-use. A linguist, philologist.
1870. Lowell, Study Wind., 265. He who writes to be read, does not write for linguisters.
