zoster, n.

zoster
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoster_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1921; not fully revised

# zosternoun

## Earlier version

- zoster in OED Second Edition (1989)

## 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

plants (early 1600s) pathology (early 1700s) costume (1820s) ancient Greek history (1820s)

#### 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?

About 0.8occurrences per million words in modern written English

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

/ˈzɒstə/
ZOSS-tuh

#### U.S. English

/ˈzɑstər/
ZAH-stuhr

### 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

1. zori, n.?1823–
2. zoril, n. 1774–
3. Zoroastrian, adj. & n. 1597–
4. Zoroastrianism, n. 1832–
5. Zoroastrianize, v. 1891–
6. Zoroastric, adj. a1739–
7. Zoroastrism, n. 1819–
8. zorrino, n. 1885–
9. zorro, n. 1838–
10. zos-grass, n. 1937–
11. zoster, n.1601–
12. zostera, n. 1819–
13. zosterops, n. 1867–
14. Zouave, n. 1848–
15. zouk, n. 1986–
16. zounds, v. 1680
17. zounds, int. a1593–
18. Zou-Zou, n. 1860–
19. zowie, int. 1902–
20. zoysia, n. 1965–
21. ZPG, n. 1970–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Latin.
Latin, < Greek ζωστήρ girdle, < ζωννύναι to gird.

## Meaning & use

1. 1.
   1601
   † A kind of seaweed. Obsolete. rare.
   1. 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
   plants
   1. sea-grass 1591–
      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…
   2. rockweed 1599–
      Seaweed; esp. a seaweed of the genus Fucus or the genus Sargassum, growing in intertidal waters and on rocks and corals in coastal areas.
   3. sea-tree 1601–1823
      Some tree-like seaweed.
   4. zoster 1601
      A kind of seaweed. Obsolete. rare.
   5. float-ore 1602–83
      A kind of seaweed.
   6. vraic 1610–
      A seaweed found in the Channel Islands, used for fuel and manure.
   7. sea-wrack 1611–
      A particular kind of seaweed.
   8. spangle-wort 1681
      A species of seaweed.
   9. trunk-weed 1730–
      ? a species of seaweed.
   10. turtle-grass 1736–
       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.
   11. sea-pine 1762–
       A dark-coloured seaweed. ? Obsolete.
   12. agar-agar 1769–
       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…
   13. greenweed 1820–
       (Usually as two words.) A green alga.
   14. rock kelp 1832–
       = rockweed, n.
   15. bull-kelp c1929–
       Any of several varieties of large seaweed found in Pacific and Antarctic waters; cf. bull-head kelp at kelp, n.¹ 1a.
   16. agarophyte 1944–
       Any of various seaweeds from which agar can be extracted. Cf. agar-agar, n. 1.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 2.
   1706–
   The disease shingles, herpes zoster. Also attributive.
   1. 1706
      Phillips's New World of Words (new edition)
   2. 1867

      > Armed against every malady from Ague to Zoster.

      O. W. Holmes, Guardian Angel xxv. 289
   3. 1877

      > Pustules are met with..in non-parasitic sycosis, herpes zoster, etc.

      L. A. Duhring, Practical Treatise on Diseases of Skin 78
   pathology
   1. shingles a1398–
      Originally: †inflammation or infection of the skin, esp. when accompanied by heat and redness; spec. erysipelas (obsolete). In later use: spec. a…
   2. zona 1706–
      Used in Anatomy with various qualifying adjectives to denote certain structures or parts of structures (see quots., and cf. zone, n. 6).
   3. zoster 1706–
      The disease shingles, herpes zoster. Also attributive.
   4. barngun 1746–
      An eruption of the skin; shingles.
   5. herpes zoster 1807–
      A disease of the skin (or sometimes of a mucous membrane) characterized by the appearance of patches of distinct vesicles. (Applied widely to a…
   6. zona ignea 1818–
      Also simply zona, the disease herpes zoster or shingles.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
3. 3.
   1824–
   Ancient Greek History. A belt or girdle, esp. as worn by men.
   1. 1824

      > A zooster or girdle of the same metal, which reaches half round the body.

      Gentleman's Magazine December 483
   2. 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
   costume ancient Greek history
   1. breechgirdle a1300–1552
      A girdle or belt worn round the loins; a belt to keep up the breeches.
   2. demiceint 1483–1543
      A girdle having ornamental work only in the front.
   3. demi-girdle 1533–35
      = demiceint, n.
   4. purse-girdle 1559–1886
      A girdle incorporating a receptacle for money, etc.
   5. yellow ribbon 1651–
      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)…
   6. burdash 1707–30
      An article of personal adornment worn in the time of Queen Anne and George I; ‘the fringed sash worn round the waist by gentlemen’ (Fairholt)…
   7. body belt 1823–
      A belt worn close to the body.
   8. subcingulum 1824
      A belt worn below another. Cf. surcingle, n. Obsolete. rare.
   9. zoster 1824–
      Ancient Greek History. A belt or girdle, esp. as worn by men.
   10. bell-girdle 1833–
       A girdle or belt hung or adorned with bells.
   11. hip girdle 1853–
       A belt, cord, etc., worn low on the hips (as opposed round to the waist). Cf. hip belt, n.
   12. half-belt 1861–
       A belt which extends only halfway around the body, esp. one across the back section of a garment.
   13. Sam Browne belt 1878–
       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…
   14. belly-band 1888–
       A wide belt, such as a cholera-belt or (slang) corset.
   15. waspie 1957–
       A ladies' corset designed to make the waist appear very small; a belt of similar design. Cf. wasp-waist, n.
   16. tie belt 1964–
       A belt which is fastened by tying.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɒstə/
ZOSS-tuh

### U.S. English

/ˈzɑstər/
ZAH-stuhr

####

##### 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 /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### 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 /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### 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 data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### 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

zoster, n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.

zoster, n. was last modified in June 2025.