A suffix denoting
the agent (originally a woman), especially a person who does something
with skill or
as an occupation; as in spin
ster (originally, a woman who spins), song
ster, ba
xter (= bake
ster), young
ster. [
1913 Webster]
" Brewing, baking, and weaving were formerly feminine labors, and consequently brewster, baxter, and webster meant, originally, the woman (not the man) who brews, bakes, or weaves. When men began to perform these duties the feminine appellations were retained."
[1913 Webster]