charwoman
(ˈtʃɛə-, ˈtʃɑːwʊmən)
Forms: 6 charr-, charre-, 7–8 chare-, chairwoman, 8–9 charwoman.
[f. chare n.1 5, v.1 5 + woman.
The spellings chare- chair- have now gone out, though the pronunciation indicated by them is still frequent.]
A woman hired by the day to do odd jobs of household work.
| α 1596 in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. I. 116 All such yonge Wemen and others called Charr Wemen in this towne as are in noe service. 1597 Deloney Jacke Newb. ix. 107 To be a charre-woman in rich mens houses. 1751 Johnson Rambl. No. 142 ¶6 Illicit correspondence with cottagers and charwomen. 1861 W. Collins Dead Secr. 66 He allowed no living soul, not even an occasional charwoman, to enter the house. |
| β 1626 Fletcher Fair M. of Inn iv. ii, The witches of Lapland are the devil's chairwomen. 1626 Bernard Isle of Man (1627) 198 The Chare-woman, and her daughters Pocketing and Filch. 1662 Fuller Worthies i. 22 It is no good huswifery to hire Chair-women. 1725 Lond Gaz. No. 6385/3 Elizabeth Maulkham..Charewoman. 1774 Westm. Mag. II. 550 As a Chairwoman was cleaning out an uninhabited house in Blaney's Court. |