starletn.
/ˈstɑːlᵻt/, U.S. /ˈstɑrlət/ 1. † a. A small, star-shaped part of a flower or plant. Obsolete.
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the world > plants > part of plant > part defined by form or function > [noun] > parts of specific shape
finger?a1425
saucer1578
umbrella1658
neck1673
discus1687
cord1776
wing1776
starlet1787
ribbon1854
rat-tail1871
peltation1881
rod1884
1787 E. Darwin et al. tr. C. Linnaeus et al. Families of Plants I. 166 Nectary a flat five-cleft Starlet [L. Stellula], (the divisions linear,) surrounding the fructification with lacerated tops.
1799 W. Jones Wks. II. 101 Leaves.., strongly ribbed with processes from the petiol-branches, conjoined by the basis of the ribs, in the form of a starlet.
1816 A. Beatson Tracts Relative to Island St. Helena 307 Each starlet thereof has a ferruginous centre.
b. Something resembling or likened to a small star; esp. a small flower. Cf. star n.1 12. Now rare.
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1867 P. J. Bailey Universal Hymn 19 [With reference to snow.] Thy blossoming starlets, thy crystalline flowers, White as the wing of angel.
1881 J. S. Blackie Lay Serm. vii. 224 The smallest yellow starlet that peeps out from a grassy carpet in the spring.
1901 G. H. Weaver tr. K. B. Lehmann & R. O. Neumann Atlas & Princ. Bacteriol. II. ii. 379 In the gelatin plate culture are formed macroscopically small starlets which resemble..those of symptomatic anthrax.
1920 Czechoslovak Rev. Mar. 130/2 A thorn-bush is hidden by a cluster of glittering white starlets like newly fallen snow.
1985 S. G. Gosvāmī Jrnl. & Poems I. 190 New flower starlets: two varieties of daisies, one white and one pinkish.
2. A small star. Frequently poetic or literary. Now rare.
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the world > the universe > star > kind of star > small star > [noun]
astracism1590
starrulet1610
asteriska1682
starnie1737
starlet1810
1810 E. MacLachlan Elegy Death J. Beattie 18 I roam'd alone Through dismal wastes where not a starlet shone.
1863 H. Spencer Ess. 2nd Ser. 8 Nebulæ may be comparatively near, though the starlets of which they are made up appear extremely minute.
1884 J. T. Levens in D. H. Edwards Mod. Sc. Poets 7th Ser. 129 The starlets peep, The dark'ning clouds atween.
1917 Pacific Short Story Mag. Aug. 28 Love is dead?.. Not while golden starlets glow.
1999 Bismarck (N. Dakota) Tribune (Nexis) 7 Mar. Taurus, the bull, a constellation best known because of six individual ‘starlets’ called the Pleiades.
3. Any of various small starfish with short blunt arms belonging to the genus Asterina or family Asterinidae, esp. (more fully gibbous starlet) A. gibbosa, which is the smallest starfish in British waters.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > phylum Echinodermata > [noun] > subphylum Eleutherozoa > class Asteroidea > order Spinulosa > member of family Asterinidae
starlet1841
1841 E. Forbes Hist. Brit. Starfishes 120 The Gibbous Starlet is widely distributed on our coasts, though apparently confined to the western and southern shores of Britain.
1854 A. Adams et al. Man. Nat. Hist. 325 Full grown Starlets (Asterina).
1896 E. Step By Deep Sea vii. 92 The Gibbous Starlet (Asterina gibbosa), in which it will be seen that the figure of the Common Star has been considerably modified by the partial filling up of the angles between the rays.
1903 H. Scherren Pop. Nat. Hist. Lower Animals vi. 206 With this tiny starlet may be compared a giant form dredged by the Challenger off Wednesday Island, in Torres Straits.
1975 Proc. Royal Irish Acad. B. 75 262 Small starlets Asterina gibbosa..occur commonly on the fronds, presumably feeding on Spirorbis or on the incrusting bryozoa.
2008 C. Gibson Seashore 109 The Green Starlet or the Small Cushion-star is distinguished by its tiny size and spiny or granular upper surface, with a marked dark green or brown star-pattern.
4.
a. A promising young actress or other female entertainer; a young actress with aspirations to become a star. Cf. star n.1 4c.Occasionally used of a young male actor.
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society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > performer > [noun] > types of performer > star or principal
star1808
co-star1888
starlet1910
television star1931
principal1936
vedette1963
1910 Washington Post 30 Jan. 2/8 Marguerite Clark, the dainty, diminutive musical-comedy starlet, appeared as the heroine.
1938 Life 29 Aug. 37 When Hollywood uncovers a starlet with a unique personality, like Marie Wilson, they turn her over to the still-picture department for a publicity ‘build-up’.
1955 W. C. Gault Ring around Rosa xiv. 165 Now she was putting it on as thick as a starlet at a producer's party.
1991 Elle Aug. 48/1 We see the rise of the male starlet, as singular, unattached identity, bulging with hunkdom and talent.
2014 Hot 1 Mar. 27/1 The..Gossip Girl starlet and the..O.C. actor got engaged in November.
b. Chiefly British. A promising young sports player. Cf. star n.1 4d.
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society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [noun] > champion or expert
champion1721
championess1728
cock of the school1732
Tartar1785
star1811
holder1830
champ1868
scratch-man1877
scratch-player1888
back-marker1895
title holder1900
titlist1912
three-letter man1929
tiger1929
stickout1933
starlet1976
1976 Star (Sheffield) 29 Oct. 28/1 Sheffield United manager Jimmy Sirrel produced another starlet from his club's youth policy today.
1992 Evening News (Edinb.) 20 Apr. 18/1 The Hibs starlet scored in his first start against Falkirk last week.
2001 I. Roberts Adv. Leisure & Recreation 194/1 Gymnastics flourished during the years when Olga Korbut and the Eastern Bloc starlets worked their charms.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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