charwoman
/'tʃɑ:,wumən/
Definition
- Noun:
- A woman employed to clean houses or offices: A "charwoman" is a female worker hired to perform domestic cleaning tasks, typically on a part-time, daily, or hourly basis. The term is somewhat dated and emphasizes the manual, often low-status, nature of the work.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- In the early 20th century, many households employed a charwoman to help with the heavy cleaning.
- She worked as a charwoman, cleaning several offices in the city center after hours.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Class Context: The term "charwoman" is now considered old-fashioned and can carry connotations of social class. More modern, neutral terms like "cleaner" or "cleaning lady" are often preferred.
- The novel depicted the hard life of a charwoman in Victorian London.
Variants and Related Words
- Char (n, informal/shortened): A common, informal shortening of "charwoman."
- The char comes every Tuesday to do the floors.
- Charing (n, archaic): The act of doing odd jobs or cleaning work.
- Cleaner (n): A more contemporary and general term for a person who cleans.
- Domestic worker (n): A broader term encompassing various household employees.
Synonyms
- Cleaning woman: A straightforward synonym.
- Maid: Can imply a more live-in or full-time role.
- Housekeeper: Often implies broader management of household tasks, not just cleaning.
Related Phrases
- To do charring (v, archaic): To work as a charwoman or do cleaning jobs.
- She went out charring to support her family.
Notes on Usage
- The word "charwoman" is derived from the Old English word "cerr" meaning "a turn" of work, related to doing odd jobs. Its use has declined in favor of less class-specific language. It is rarely used in modern American English.
Noun
-
a human female employed to do housework
-
the char will clean the carpet
-
I have a woman who comes in four hours a day while I write
-
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ gần giống
