clear-starchv.
To stiffen and dress linen with clear or colourless starch.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > wash clothes [verb (transitive)] > starch
starch1390
conjee1698
clear-starch1709
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 37. ⁋8 If the said Servant can Clear-Starch, Lisp and Tread softly.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 264. ⁋2 A Taylor's Widow, who washes and can clear-starch his Bands.
1898 A. Nicholas Idyl of Wabash 6 I'd like to clear starch 'em all once.
Derivatives
(often figurative).
ˈclear-starched adj.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > [adjective] > starched
starched1586
yellow1587
clear-starched1774
starchy1844
1774 West. Mag. 2 9 Their stiff, clear-starch'd virtue won't get a cull.
1824 M. R. Mitford Our Village I. 224 A fine plain clear-starched caul.
ˈclear-starching n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > [noun] > starching
starching1390
clear-starching1728
1728 H. Fielding Love in Several Masques iii. vii. 34 We teach our Daughters..that good old English Art of Clear-Starching, instead of that Heathenish Gambol, called Dancing.
1865 Cornhill Mag. Oct. 411 To find some one to teach clear-starching at your school.
ˈclear-starcher n. a person who clear-starches, esp. as a vocation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > [noun] > starching > starcher
starcher?1518
starch wench1626
clear-starcher1709
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 118. ⁋8 Your Petitioner was bred a Clear-starcher and Sempstress.
1855 E. C. Gaskell North & South I. ix. 112 I'm getting to be a famous clear-starcher.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
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