washerwoman

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English washer Proto-Germanic *wībą Proto-West Germanic *wīb Old English wīf Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Old English wīfmann Middle English woman Middle English -woman English -woman English washerwoman From washer + -woman.

1. A woman who washes people's laundry.

   “‘I wish it would rain,’ continued she; ‘only we are going to have a six-week’s wash to-morrow, and that’s a heavy job for the poor creatures. La! don’t you pity washerwomen in hot weather; it’s the hardest work that’s done.’”

2. A double drummer, large cicada of Australia, of species Thopha saccata.
3. A weedy plant of the Americas (Alternanthera caracasana).