from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Minster \Min"ster\, n. [AS. mynster, fr. L. monasterium. See
{Monastery}.] (Arch.)
A church of a monastery. The name is often retained and
applied to the church after the monastery has ceased to exist
(as Beverly Minster, Southwell Minster, etc.), and is also
improperly used for any large church.
[1913 Webster]
{Minster house}, the official house in which the canons of a
cathedral live in common or in rotation. --Shipley.
[1913 Webster]