What is "spencer"

Trysail \Try"sail\, n. (Naut.) A fore-and-aft sail, bent to a gaff, and hoisted on a lower mast or on a small mast, called the trysail mast, close abaft a lower mast; -- used chiefly as a storm sail. Called also spencer.
--Totten.

surname attested from late 13c. (earlier le Despenser, c.1200), literally "one who dispenses or has charge of provisions in a household." Middle English spence meant "larder, pantry," and is short for Old French despense (French dépense) "expense," from despenser "to distribute" (see dispense). Another form of the word is spender, which also has become a surname.\n

\nAs a type of repeating rifle used in the American Civil War, 1863, named for U.S. gunsmith Christopher Spencer, who, with Luke Wheelock, manufactured them in Boston, Mass.

Etymology 1 n. 1 A short, close-fitting jacket primarily worn by women and children in the early nineteenth century. 2 A thin knitted woollen vest. 3 A large loose-fitted gaffsail on a square-rigger or barque, used from the nineteenth century onwards. Etymology 2

n. (context archaic English) One who has the care of the spence, or buttery.

Spencer may refer to:

The spencer, dating from the 1790s, was originally a woolen outer tail-coat with the tails omitted. It was worn as a short waist-length, double-breasted, man's jacket. It was originally named for George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758–1834), who is reported to have had a tail-coat adapted after its tails were burned by coals from a fire. It was adopted as mess dress by British military officers, leading to the name mess jacket.

It was also soon adopted as a popular women's fashion on both sides of the Atlantic during the 1790–1820 Regency style period The spencer was worn as a cardigan, or as a short, fitted jacket cut to just above waist level, or, in Empire style, to the bust line, and tailored on identical lines to the dress.

The use of the term spencer continued well into the 19th century to mean more generally any type of short jacket or coat. In Australia the term is sometimes used to refer to thermal underwear.

In current menswear, the term "spencer" is often synonymous with knitted vest or waistcoat.

Spencer (also Spence, Spender, Spens, and Spenser) is a surname. The origin can be traced directly to Robert d'Abbetot, who is listed as Robert le Dispenser, a tenant-in-chief of several counties, in the Domesday Book of 1086. Robert was possibly one of the Norman knights who fought alongside (or accompanied) William the Conqueror in the defeat of Harold II, King of England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. There is little doubt that both Robert and his brother Urse came to England at about the time of the Battle of Hastings. They were both beneficiaries of William over the years, and were given titles and substantial land and property—suggesting repayment for some earlier deeds. It is likely that Robert's first acknowledgment was his official appointment as Royal "Dispencier" sometimes expressed more grandly as "Royal Steward", "King's Steward" or "Lord Steward". As dispenser of provisions to the King and his household Robert was known and recorded as Robert le Despencer or, in its Latinised form, Robertus Dispensator. There is also the possibility that Robert held this official position before arriving in England.

Robert's adopted surname was usually written as Despenser or Dispenser—notably in works such as the Domesday Book of 1086 and the Scottish Ragman Rolls of 1291 and 1296. From 1066 until the 13th century the occupational name attributed to Robert d'Abbetot existed with numerous spelling and other variations. Eventually both the "le" and "de" that frequently preceded the name were omitted. In 1392 the popular "s" in the centre of the name was discarded and replaced with the "c" seen in the present-day form—Spencer.

The surname Spencer has gained in popularity over time. In the 19th century it also become popular as a given name—especially in the more anglicised areas of the United States.

Spencer is a given name of British origin. There are two meanings of the name: the first is transferred from the surname, in regular use since the nineteenth century. The second meaning is 'Guardian' when in use as a given name in English nineteenth century courts.

Spencer, later titled Under One Roof, is an American teen situation comedy broadcast on NBC for one season starting in December 1984.

Spencer (first name and dates unknown) was an English first-class cricketer for Essex and the Hornchurch Cricket Club who was active in the 1790s and is recorded in one first-class match in 1793, totalling 2 runs with a highest score of 2.

Spencer is the debut solo album and fourteenth studio album release overall by Spencer Albee. The album was announced in the summer of 2012 with a PledgeMusic campaign, and the track listing was announced on June 19, 2013. The album was released on July 9, 2013.

Enrique Gómez Muñoz (20 July 1898 – 14 March 1926), known as Spencer, was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward.