charwoman

American  

[chahr-woom-uhn] / ˈtʃɑrˌwʊm ən /

noun

charwomen plural

1. a woman hired to do general cleaning, especially in an office or large house.

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charwoman British  

/ ˈtʃɑːˌwʊmən /

noun

1. a woman who is hired to clean, tidy, etc, in a house or office

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• charwomen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of charwoman

First recorded in 1590–1600; char ³ + woman

Example Sentences

In Stratford-upon-Avon, England, Charwoman Mary Cowan spotted an ad for old books, packed off some first editions of Shakespeare from the Memorial Theater where she worked.

From Time Magazine Archive

Local police were snugly in bed until the next morning, when Charwoman Incarnation Olivares arrived, took one look at the bare walls, shrieked: "Mon Dieu, they have pulled off the museum!"

From Time Magazine Archive

"Captain," said he, "we must have a Charwoman."

From The Pirate's Pocket Book by Calthrop, Dion Clayton

I have it not before me, but I remember a capital simile of the Charwoman letting in her Watchman husband, which is better than Butler's Lobster turned to Red.

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 6 Letters 1821-1842 by Lamb, Mary

Mrs. Farrell, a lean, highly respectable Irish Charwoman of about 50 comes in.

From Press Cuttings by Shaw, Bernard