Where does “songstress” come from?

songstress (English) comes from English songster, from Middle English songster, from Old English sangestre, from Old English -estre, from Proto-West Germanic *-astrijā — ress.

songstress (English): A female singer; A female songbird

Definitions

  1. A female singer; A female songbird

Ancestry of “songstress”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsongsterA man who sings songs, especially as a...
2Middle Englishsongster—
3Old Englishsangestresinger
4Old English-estrefemale agent suffix, especially denoting one who...
5Proto-West Germanic*-astrijāress
Every word from Proto-West Germanic *-astrijā →Every word from Old English -estre →Every word from Old English sangestre →