55 words ending in ‘ster’ you didn’t know you needed to know

Ask people to say words ending in ster and you might get hipster, prankster, jokester, or gangster. A handful of words formed by the addition of the suffix –ster are still in common use; with some, like spinster, the origin may no longer even be apparent, as the word no longer primarily means ‘a woman who spins’. There are plenty of others, many obsolete, to be found in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), and we had fun seeking out some of the less common examples. Which of these is due a resurgence?

1. Bangster: bang (v.)+ ster

A burly violent fellow; a bully, a braggart, or one who beats his opponents; a victor, winner.

2. Bankster: bank (n.) + ster

A humorous nickname for a person employed in banking, or a derogatory term for a banker seen as profiteering or dishonest.

3. Broomster: broom (v.) + ster

One who wields a broom; specifically in curling, one who sweeps the ice.

4. Browdster: browd (v.)+ ster

An embroiderer.

5. Bumster: bum (n.) + ster

A very low-cut style of trousers, which reveals the top of the wearer’s buttocks.

6. Clubster: club (n.) + ster

A frequenter of clubs, or one who uses a club for striking. Also a stoat.

7. Dabster: dab (n.) + ster

One skilled at anything; an expert.

8. Daubster: daub (n.) + ster

A clumsy painter.

9. Dopester: dope (n.) + ster

One who collects information on, and forecasts the result of, sporting events, elections etc. Also one sells, uses, or is addicted to, drugs.

10. Dragster: drag (n.) + ster

A car designed for drag races.

11. Drumster: drum (v.) + ster

A drummer.

12. Dryster: dry (v.) + ster

Someone employed in drying something.

13. Fibster: fib (v.) + ster

A liar.

14. Flogster: flog (v.) + ster

One who is addicted to flogging.

15. Fraudster: fraud (n.) + ster

One who commits fraud.

16. Funkster: funk (n.) + ster

A performer or fan of ‘funky’ music.

17. Funster: fun (n.) + ster

A jocular term for one who makes fun.

18.  Gagster: gag (n.) + ster

One who makes ‘gags’ or jokes; a gag-writer or comedian.

19. Gamester: game (n.) + ster

A gambler or a risk-taker. A player of any game, sport, or pastime. Also a person who looks after a ‘game’ of swans.

20. Hackster: hack (v.) + ster

One who hacks, a ‘hacker’ or ‘cutter’; a cut-throat; a swaggering ruffian, swashbuckler. Also a prostitute.

21. Hewster: hue (n.) + ster

A colourer, a dyer.

22. Homester: home (n.) + ster

A person devoted to staying at home, a homebody. In British sport, a person playing on his or her home territory, especially (in plural) the home team.

23. Humster: hum (v.) + ster

One who expresses approval by humming.

24. Inkster: ink (v. or n.) + ster

A scribbler, an inferior writer.

25. Kickster: kick (n.) + ster

One whose behaviour is governed principally or solely by the desire for ‘kicks’.

26. Knitster: knit (v.) + ster

A knitter.

27. Lewdster: lewd (adj.) + ster

A lewd person.

28. Lobster: lob (v.) + ster

One who bowls ‘lobs’ at cricket.

29. Mimester: mime (n.) + ster

A mime artist.

30. Mugster: mug (v.) + ster

Derogatory school slang for a diligent or hard-working student.

31. Planster: plan (n.) + ster

A depreciative term for a person responsible for planning urban or land development.

32. Prepster: prep (n.) + ster

A student at or graduate of a prep school.

33. Prigster: prig (v.) + ster

A thief. Also an excessively precise or particular person and, more generally, an objectionable person.

34. Puckster: puck (n.) + ster

An ice hockey player.

35. Punster: pun (n.) + ster

A person who makes puns, esp. habitually or skilfully.

36. Quipster: quip (n.) + ster

A person given to making quips.

37. Rhymester: rhyme (n. or v.) + ster

A person who composes rhymes or verses, esp. verses of inferior quality; a rhymer.

38. Roadster: road (n.) + ster

A horse or bicycle suitable for roads. A type of sporty open-top car with two seats. A person who uses roads; a traveller.

39. Rockster: rock (v.) + ster

A woman who rocks a cradle; a child’s nurse.

40. Roomster: room (n.) + ster

An occupant of space.

41. Sadster: sad (adj.) + ster

A pathetic or contemptible person, in colloquial British English.

42. Scenester: scene (n.) + ster

A person who is characterized by participation in a particular (usually fashionable) social, musical, or artistic scene.

43. Seedster: seed (v.) + ster

A sower; a disseminator, an originator.

44. Sharpster: sharp (n.) + ster

A sharp or stylish dresser. Also, a cheat, swindler, rogue.

45. Shavester: shave (v.) + ster

A barber.

46. Skister: ski (n.) + ster

One who uses skis; a ski-runner.

47. Speedster: speed (n.) + ster

A fast motor vehicle; a speed-boat. Also a motorist who drives fast, and a person or animal who moves or acts very quickly; a fast runner.

48. Sportster: sport (n.) + ster

A sports car. Also an item of clothing suitable for sporting or informal wear.

49. Swordster: sword (n.) + ster

One addicted to the use of the sword.

50. Teamster: team (n.) + ster

The driver or owner of a team. In North American English, a lorry-driver, especially a member of the Teamsters Union, including lorry drivers, chauffeurs, and warehouse workers.

51. Tipster: tip (n.) + ster

One who systematically gives tips or gratuities.

52. Tonguester: tongue (n.) + ster

A talkative person; a great talker; a gossip.

53. Tunester: tune (n.) + ster

A songwriter.

54. Whipster: whip (v.) + ster

A slight, insignificant, or contemptible person. Also a driver of horses.

55. Wordster: word (n.) + ster

A person who uses words, esp. skilfully or (in early use, depreciatively) in place of action. Also: a student of words and their meanings.

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