zosternoun
Factsheet
What does the noun zoster mean?
There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zoster, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
zoster has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
How common is the noun zoster?
| 1780 | 0.012 |
| 1790 | 0.016 |
| 1800 | 0.018 |
| 1810 | 0.019 |
| 1820 | 0.026 |
| 1830 | 0.036 |
| 1840 | 0.058 |
| 1850 | 0.12 |
| 1860 | 0.18 |
| 1870 | 0.26 |
| 1880 | 0.33 |
| 1890 | 0.38 |
| 1900 | 0.36 |
| 1910 | 0.33 |
| 1920 | 0.32 |
| 1930 | 0.32 |
| 1940 | 0.32 |
| 1950 | 0.41 |
| 1960 | 0.56 |
| 1970 | 0.69 |
| 1980 | 0.77 |
| 1990 | 0.85 |
| 2000 | 0.9 |
| 2010 | 0.88 |
How is the noun zoster pronounced?
British English
U.S. English
Where does the noun zoster come from?
Earliest known use
early 1600s
The earliest known use of the noun zoster is in the early 1600s.
OED's earliest evidence for zoster is from 1601, in a translation by Philemon Holland, translator.
zoster is a borrowing from Latin.
Nearby entries
- zori, n.?1823–
- zoril, n.1774–
- Zoroastrian, adj. & n.1597–
- Zoroastrianism, n.1832–
- Zoroastrianize, v.1891–
- Zoroastric, adj.a1739–
- Zoroastrism, n.1819–
- zorrino, n.1885–
- zorro, n.1838–
- zos-grass, n.1937–
- zoster, n.1601–
- zostera, n.1819–
- zosterops, n.1867–
- Zouave, n.1848–
- zouk, n.1986–
- zounds, v.1680
- zounds, int.a1593–
- Zou-Zou, n.1860–
- zowie, int.1902–
- zoysia, n.1965–
- ZPG, n.1970–
Etymology
Summary
Meaning & use
- 1.1601† A kind of seaweed. Obsolete. rare.
- 1601
As for the former [seaweed] called Zoster, it is found among the shelves and shallow waters not farre from the shore.
P. Holland, translation of Pliny, Historie of World vol. I. xiii. xxv. 401
- sea-grass1591–One of various plants and seaweeds growing in the sea: (a) a pondweed, Ruppia maritima; (b) the eel-grass or grass-wrack, Zostera marina; also, the…
- rockweed1599–Seaweed; esp. a seaweed of the genus Fucus or the genus Sargassum, growing in intertidal waters and on rocks and corals in coastal areas.
- sea-tree1601–1823Some tree-like seaweed.
- zoster1601A kind of seaweed. Obsolete. rare.
- float-ore1602–83A kind of seaweed.
- vraic1610–A seaweed found in the Channel Islands, used for fuel and manure.
- sea-wrack1611–A particular kind of seaweed.
- spangle-wort1681A species of seaweed.
- trunk-weed1730–? a species of seaweed.
- turtle-grass1736–Name for two marine plants with long narrow grass-like leaves: (a) Thalassia testudinum, of the W. Indies, etc.; (b) the grass-wrack, Zostera marina.
- sea-pine1762–A dark-coloured seaweed. ? Obsolete.
- agar-agar1769–Any of various red algae from which agar may be extracted (cf. agarophyte, n.); esp. any of several Southeast Asian seaweeds of the genera Gracilaria…
- greenweed1820–(Usually as two words.) A green alga.
- rock kelp1832–= rockweed, n.
- bull-kelpc1929–Any of several varieties of large seaweed found in Pacific and Antarctic waters; cf. bull-head kelp at kelp, n.¹ 1a.
- agarophyte1944–Any of various seaweeds from which agar can be extracted. Cf. agar-agar, n. 1.
- 2.1706–The disease shingles, herpes zoster. Also attributive.
- 1706Phillips's New World of Words (new edition)
- 1867
Armed against every malady from Ague to Zoster.
O. W. Holmes, Guardian Angel xxv. 289 - 1877
Pustules are met with..in non-parasitic sycosis, herpes zoster, etc.
L. A. Duhring, Practical Treatise on Diseases of Skin 78
the world health ill health a disease, disorder, condition, etc. disorders of visible parts eruptive diseases [nouns] herpes shingles- shinglesa1398–Originally: †inflammation or infection of the skin, esp. when accompanied by heat and redness; spec. erysipelas (obsolete). In later use: spec. a…
- zona1706–Used in Anatomy with various qualifying adjectives to denote certain structures or parts of structures (see quots., and cf. zone, n. 6).
- zoster1706–The disease shingles, herpes zoster. Also attributive.
- barngun1746–An eruption of the skin; shingles.
- herpes zoster1807–A disease of the skin (or sometimes of a mucous membrane) characterized by the appearance of patches of distinct vesicles. (Applied widely to a…
- zona ignea1818–Also simply zona, the disease herpes zoster or shingles.
- 3.1824–Ancient Greek History. A belt or girdle, esp. as worn by men.
- 1824
A zooster or girdle of the same metal, which reaches half round the body.
Gentleman's Magazine December 483 - 1906
The Mitré is a band of metal worn round the waist under the Chiton, the Zoster a similar belt worn over the tunic.
Academy 1 December 543/2
the world textiles and clothing clothing types or styles of clothing clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) [nouns] belt or sash types of other- breechgirdlea1300–1552A girdle or belt worn round the loins; a belt to keep up the breeches.
- demiceint1483–1543A girdle having ornamental work only in the front.
- demi-girdle1533–35= demiceint, n.
- purse-girdle1559–1886A girdle incorporating a receptacle for money, etc.
- yellow ribbon1651–A yellow sash or ribbon worn as a badge of honour; spec. (a) the orange-yellow sash on which the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle was worn; (b)…
- burdash1707–30An article of personal adornment worn in the time of Queen Anne and George I; ‘the fringed sash worn round the waist by gentlemen’ (Fairholt)…
- body belt1823–A belt worn close to the body.
- subcingulum1824A belt worn below another. Cf. surcingle, n. Obsolete. rare.
- zoster1824–Ancient Greek History. A belt or girdle, esp. as worn by men.
- bell-girdle1833–A girdle or belt hung or adorned with bells.
- hip girdle1853–A belt, cord, etc., worn low on the hips (as opposed round to the waist). Cf. hip belt, n.
- half-belt1861–A belt which extends only halfway around the body, esp. one across the back section of a garment.
- Sam Browne belt1878–In full Sam Browne belt. A leather belt with a supporting strap that passes diagonally over the right shoulder, worn by army and police officers…
- belly-band1888–A wide belt, such as a cholera-belt or (slang) corset.
- waspie1957–A ladies' corset designed to make the waist appear very small; a belt of similar design. Cf. wasp-waist, n.
- tie belt1964–A belt which is fastened by tying.
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.
Consonants
b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values
- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige
Vowels
- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot
Forms
Variant forms
Also 1800s zooster.Frequency
zoster typically occurs about 0.8 times per million words in modern written English.
zoster is in frequency band 4, which contains words occurring between 0.1 and 1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands
Frequency of zoster, n., 1780–2010
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.
The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.
For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.
| Decade | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 1780 | 0.012 |
| 1790 | 0.016 |
| 1800 | 0.018 |
| 1810 | 0.019 |
| 1820 | 0.026 |
| 1830 | 0.036 |
| 1840 | 0.058 |
| 1850 | 0.12 |
| 1860 | 0.18 |
| 1870 | 0.26 |
| 1880 | 0.33 |
| 1890 | 0.38 |
| 1900 | 0.36 |
| 1910 | 0.33 |
| 1920 | 0.32 |
| 1930 | 0.32 |
| 1940 | 0.32 |
| 1950 | 0.41 |
| 1960 | 0.56 |
| 1970 | 0.69 |
| 1980 | 0.77 |
| 1990 | 0.85 |
| 2000 | 0.9 |
| 2010 | 0.88 |
Frequency of zoster, n., 2017–2024
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the corpus.
| Period | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 0.059 |
| 2018 | 0.067 |
| 2019 | 0.068 |
| 2020 | 0.081 |
| 2021 | 0.093 |
| 2022 | 0.11 |
| 2023 | 0.11 |
| 2024 | 0.13 |