Obs. Forms: 4 keme-, 5 kempstare, kembestere, cem-, kem-, 5–6 kemp-, (7 kemester). [f. KEMB v. + -STER. Cf. MDu. kemster(e.] A comber (of wool); properly, a female comber.
a. 1400. Burgh Laws, c. 103 (Sc. Stat. I.). Gif ony kemestaris levis þe burgh to dwell wyth uplandys men.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 270/2. Kempstare, pectrix.
14[?]. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 601/10. Pectrix, a kembestere.
c. 1483. Caxton, Dialogues, 32/12. Katherin the kempster … swore … That she kembyth never Wulle so well.
1530. Palsgr., 481/1. This felowe chattereth lyke a kempster,… comme vne piegneresse de layne.
1641. Ferguson, Sc. Prov., No. 566. Kemsters are ay creishie.
b. Comb.
1356. in Riley, Mem. London (1868), 283. [8 pairs of] kemstercombes, [and one] boweshawe, 11d.
