lunchlady
Hairnet food worker
A lunchlady is a woman who works in a school cafeteria, typically serving food to students during meal periods.
The term evokes a specific cultural image: a middle-aged woman in a hairnet ladling portions onto trays.
Though the job is gender-neutral in practice, lunchlady remains the familiar term, with lunch lady as the more common two-word spelling.
The lunchlady always gave me an extra scoop of mashed potatoes.
Mesh head covering
- apronWaist-tied protective garment
- ladleDeep spoon for serving
- tongsHinged grasping utensil
- steamtableHeated food-service counter
portion · tray · countertop · gloves · lunchroom · foodservice
Showing parental warmth
- caringShowing kind concern
- nurturingSupportive care-giving
- kindheartedNaturally sympathetic and caring
- matronlyLike a dowager
warm · patient · attentive · feeding · nourishing · comforting · familiar · welcoming
Those receiving instruction
- lunchbreakScheduled eating interval
- recessPause in activity
- schooldayDay of instruction
- lunchboxPortable food container
Measured food portion
- scoopingLifting with curved tool
- portioningDividing into shares
- dishingSpreading talk informally
- ladlingServing with large spoon
hairnet
Mesh head covering
steamtable · portion · tray · countertop · gloves · lunchroom · foodservice
motherly
Showing parental warmth
- caringShowing kind concern
- nurturingSupportive care-giving
- kindheartedNaturally sympathetic and caring
matronly · warm · patient · attentive · feeding · nourishing · comforting · familiar · welcoming · generous
students
Those receiving instruction
- lunchbreakScheduled eating interval
- recessPause in activity
- schooldayDay of instruction
serving
Measured food portion
- scoopingLifting with curved tool
- portioningDividing into shares
- dishingSpreading talk informally
ladling · plating · lineup · behind the counter · sneezeguard
lunchladycelebrity chef
Famous professional cook
master chef · chef · executive chef · Gordon Ramsay · Julia Child
lunchladystudent
One formally enrolled somewhere
schoolchild · diner · customer · patron
lunchladysommelier
Trained wine service professional
maître d · personal chef · caterer · food critic · restaurateur
lunch, lady, lunches, ladies, luncheon, lunchtime, ladylike, ladyship