charwoman

Office cleaning lady

A charwoman is a woman hired to do cleaning work, typically in offices or private homes.

The term is British and old-fashioned, largely replaced by cleaner or cleaning lady.

The charwoman came twice a week to scrub the floors.

The char- comes from an old word for a turn of work or odd job.

occupation

maid

Household cleaning worker

housekeeperDomestic cleaning professional
servantOne employed to serve
custodianGuardian of a place

chambermaid · housemaid · cleaner · janitor · caretaker · domestic · scrubwoman · charladies · daily · help

tools

mop

Floor-washing implement

broomBristled cleaning stick
dustpanHandheld floor-debris collector
bucketOpen-top carrying vessel

scrub brush · sponge · rag · duster · polish · detergent · bleach · soap · wringer · apron

tasks

scrubbing

Cleaning by rubbing hard

moppingCleaning floors with water
sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
dustingRemoving surface grime

polishing · washing · wiping · tidying · cleaning · vacuuming · laundering · ironing · scouring · waxing

archaic

Victorian

Of a prim era

EdwardianOf early twentieth-century Britain
old-fashionedBelonging to earlier times
bygoneOf earlier times

historical · period · Dickensian · workhouse · scullery · below-stairs · downstairs · service · class · working-class

Categories

cleanerscleaner, cleaners, maids, maid, detergent
femalesgirl, lady, mother, daughter, wife
household staffmaid, butler, housekeeper, cook, nanny
Old Jobsblacksmith, farrier, wheelwright, chandler, apothecary
old-fashionedantique, antiques, gramophone, phonograph, horse and buggy
domestic servantsmaid, housemaid, chambermaid, parlormaid, parlor maid

Opposites

employment status/class

charwomanlady of the house

Female head of household

employer · madam · gentlewoman · lady of leisure · homeowner

gender

charwomanmanservant

Male domestic employee

butler · valet · footman · houseman · houseboy

Family

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G