hostess-ship

See also: hostessship

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From hostess + -ship.

Noun

hostess-ship (uncountable)

  1. The state or position of being a hostess.
    • c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)], lines 294-6:
      It is my father's will, I should take on me / The hostessship o' the day : You're welcome, sir! / Give me those flowers there, Dorcas.

Usage notes

  • The unabridged second edition of Webster's Dictionary spells this term hostessship, with no hyphen. A hyphen was inserted in subsequent editions.
  • The First Folio edition of The Winter's Tale spells this term hostesseship here.
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