Bachelorette

Posted by R. Berg on April 17, 2002

In Reply to: Bachelorette posted by TheFallen on April 17, 2002

: Fortunately we don't have this word over here - to us they're stag parties or hen parties - but I just wondered how recent this coinage is? I can understand why it arose though - a "spinster party" might be a tad hard to market.

Apparently, from your post, in the U.K. a bachelorette is a gathering rather than a person. The only meaning I know for "bachelorette" in the U.S. is a young, unmarried woman. "Bachelorette" has different connotations than "spinster": a bachelorette is attractive in looks, personality, or both, and she probably lives apart from her parents. She may well marry someday. A spinster is past the usual age for marriage; she may or may not have left home. "Bachelorette" is the kind of word that makes word people wince. I don't know how old it is, but it isn't in my American print dictionaries.

• Bachelorette TheFallen 04/17/02
  • Bachelorette ESC 04/17/02
    • Bachelorette masakim 04/17/02
    • Bachelorette R. Berg 04/17/02
      • Bachelor girl (Bachelorette) masakim 04/17/02
        • Bachelor girl (Bachelorette) Marian 04/20/02
          • Doctorette ESC 04/20/02
            • Doctorette Marian 04/21/02
              • Honey ESC 04/24/02