washwoman
She scrubs linens
A washwoman is a woman who washes clothes for others as paid work.
The term is old-fashioned, reflecting an era when laundry was done by hand and often hired out: The washwoman came every Monday to collect the linens.
Also called washerwoman or laundress.
Domestic cleaning professional
- maidHousehold cleaning worker
- servantOne employed to serve
- housemaidLive-in cleaning employee
- charwomanHired female cleaner
chambermaid · cook · laundress · household · parlormaid · hired · wages · mistress
Household fabric goods
- starchComplex plant carbohydrate
- ironingSmoothing cloth with heat
- wringerWater-extracting roller device
- tubOpen washing basin
clothesline · fabric · garments · soaking · scrubbing · rinse · drying · folding
Strenuous, prolonged effort
- scrubbingCleaning by rubbing hard
- wringingTwisting to extract moisture
- haulingTransporting heavy items
- backbreakingExtremely physically demanding
drudgery · hardship · exertion · manual · physical · tireless · calloused · worn
Compulsory labor under masters
- indenturedContracted to serve
- peonageDebt-based forced labor
- underclassLowest socioeconomic group
- proletariatLaborers lacking capital ownership
tenement · poorhouse · workhouse · slavery · bondage · emancipation · segregation · Jim Crow
housekeeper
Domestic cleaning professional
charwoman · chambermaid · cook · laundress · household · parlormaid · hired · wages · mistress · employ
linens
Household fabric goods
- starchComplex plant carbohydrate
- ironingSmoothing cloth with heat
- wringerWater-extracting roller device
tub · clothesline · fabric · garments · soaking · scrubbing · rinse · drying · folding · sorting
toil
Strenuous, prolonged effort
- scrubbingCleaning by rubbing hard
- wringingTwisting to extract moisture
- haulingTransporting heavy items
backbreaking · drudgery · hardship · exertion · manual · physical · tireless · calloused · worn · sweat
servitude
Compulsory labor under masters
- indenturedContracted to serve
- peonageDebt-based forced labor
- underclassLowest socioeconomic group
proletariat · tenement · poorhouse · workhouse · slavery · bondage · emancipation · segregation · Jim Crow · freedwoman
washwomanseamstress
One who stitches garments
tailor · dressmaker · clothier · weaver · dry cleaner
washwomanlady of the house
Female head of household
employer · madam · noblewoman · aristocrat · gentlewoman