spinster

noun

Etymology: From Middle English spynnestere (“woman who spins fibre”), from c. 1350; equivalent to spin + -ster. The semantic development is from a historical notion of unmarried women spinning thread for a living.

1. A woman who has never been married, especially one past the typical marrying age according to social traditions.

   “If […] a woman be named spinster, she may abate […]the same [writ].”

   “Iola Boylen is Mama's longtime friend and neighbor, a spinster who lives with her never-seen domineering mother.”

2. One who spins (puts a spin on) a political media story so as to give something a favorable or advantageous appearance; a spin doctor, spin merchant or spinmeister.
3. Someone whose occupation was spinning thread.

   “The spinsters and the knitters in the sun.”

4. A woman of evil life and character; so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction.
5. A spider; an insect (such as a silkworm) which spins thread.