masseuse
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of masseuse
From French, dating back to 1875–80; see origin at massage, -euse
Explanation
The woman with the hands of gold that gets the knots out of your aching back is called a "massage therapist," but for a long time the word masseuse was acceptable. Many women who do massage professionally do not like the term masseuse but it is literally defined as a "female massager." The term has swinging sexy undertones, perhaps conjuring up images of flirty athletic women. While you may be lucky enough to get a massage therapist like this on your next spa visit, don't call her a masseuse. If it's a cute man, don't call him a masseur, either.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Masseuse Joy Chukwudi's plan to massage clients for 75 hours fell short when she ran out of steam.
From Reuters • Jul. 13, 2023
Masseuse Xue Juan, 44, said her friend recently returned to her small hometown in Chengdu province and opened a hotpot restaurant, and she is thinking of joining her.
From Reuters • Jun. 12, 2022
Explain to me why are we acting like savages?” georgia, mikheil saakashvili A President, His Masseuse and Her Blog P.R.
From New York Times • Jul. 28, 2010
She made the Masseuse and the little School Teacher think of a pale-pink rose in a cut-glass vase.
From The Sick-a-Bed Lady And Also Hickory Dock, The Very Tired Girl, The Happy-Day, Something That Happened in October, The Amateur Lover, Heart of The City, The Pink Sash, Woman's Only Business by Abbott, Eleanor Hallowell
Rhoda Hanlan the Masseuse was ostentatiously sewed with double thread and backstitched at that.
From The Sick-a-Bed Lady And Also Hickory Dock, The Very Tired Girl, The Happy-Day, Something That Happened in October, The Amateur Lover, Heart of The City, The Pink Sash, Woman's Only Business by Abbott, Eleanor Hallowell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
