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.
    • 1623, William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale, Act IV, line 294-6, in 1788, Samuel Johnson, George Steevens, John Bell, The Dramatick Writings of Will. Shakspere, page 74
      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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