washerwoman
/'wɔʃə'wumən/ Cách viết khác : (washwoman) /'wɔʃ,wumən/
Definition
- Noun:
- A woman whose job is to wash clothes, especially for other people: A washerwoman is a female worker who earns money by washing laundry, typically taking in washing from clients.
Usage
- The word "washerwoman" specifically denotes a female person engaged in the occupation of laundering clothes. It is a compound noun formed from "wash" + "er" + "woman". It is considered a somewhat dated or historical term, as modern equivalents like "laundry worker" are more common.
Examples
- In the 19th century, many washerwomen worked by the river, using stones to beat the dirt from clothes.
- She supported her family by working as a washerwoman for the wealthy households in town.
Advanced Usage
- The term can appear in historical contexts, literature, or discussions about traditional occupations and gender roles.
- "To work like a washerwoman": An informal simile implying very hard, physically demanding labor.
- After cleaning the entire house, I felt like I had worked like a washerwoman.
Variants and Related Words
- Washerman (n): The male equivalent; a man whose job is to wash clothes.
- Laundress (n): A synonym for washerwoman, also a woman who washes clothes, especially professionally.
- Laundry worker (n): A modern, gender-neutral term for a person who works in a laundry service.
Synonyms
- Laundress
- Laundrywoman
- Washwoman
Antonyms
- There is no direct antonym, but terms for unrelated professions (e.g., tailor, cook) serve as contextual opposites.
Related Phrases
- Take in washing: A phrasal verb meaning to accept laundry from others to wash for payment. This is the action performed by a washerwoman.
- To make ends meet, she began to take in washing from her neighbors.
Noun
-
a working woman who takes in washing
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