window cleanern.
/ˈwɪndə(ʊ) ˌkliːnə/, U.S. /ˈwɪndoʊ ˌklinər/ 1. A person whose job is to clean windows.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing other specific things > [noun] > windows > one who
window cleaner1781
window washer1834
shiner1958
1781 W. Hutton Hist. Birmingham 238 The value of these ancient relicts have long claimed the care of the wardens, to preserve them from the injurious hand of the boys, and the foot of the window cleaner.
1813 Lady's Monthly Museum July 43 I..overheard a debate amongst the window-cleaners, how they should manage about the upper windows, as their ladders were not long enough to reach them.
1918 Pop. Sci. Monthly July 80/1 Among the more hazardous callings, that of the window-cleaner has received its share of attention from inventors of safety appliances.
1981 S. McAughtry Belfast Stories i. 46 You must be the only window cleaner in the western world who has the brass neck to clean windows in snowy weather.
2003 C. Birch Turn again Home xv. 209 ‘I've got my ladders now, Nelly,’ he said. He was starting up as a window-cleaner.
2. Originally: a supportive apparatus fixed to a windowsill, allowing windows on upper floors to be cleaned safely from the outside (obsolete). Later: an implement or device which enables a person to clean windows on upper floors safely; (more generally) any implement or device used to clean windows.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > ladder > scaffolding > [noun] > for cleaning or painting windows
window cleaner1836
window jack1843
cripple1887
1836 Mechanics' Mag. 8 Oct. 11/2 The accompanying drawing..represents Gregory's safety window-cleaner in use.
1855 Times 25 Feb. 4/4 (advt.) The safety window cleaner, by which simple apparatus any person may, without risking their lives by sitting half out of a window, clean perfectly the dirtiest window from the inside of a room.
1880 Federal Reporter 2 574 An improved window cleaner, consisting of a handle or holder, an elastic rubbing strip.., and a bearing or support for said strip.
1921 Manch. Guardian 14 Sept. 5/3 The complications of window-cleaning have been eliminated very satisfactorily by a novel ‘safety’ window-cleaner.
1994 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 21 Feb. 5 e A long-handled rubber window cleaner makes an excellent tool for removing dog hair from carpeting.
3. A product or substance used for cleaning windows.
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1866 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Daily Sentinel 11 Dec. Instantaneous Window Cleaner and Magic Polish, cleans windows, show cases, and polishes silver, brass, tin or glassware.
1900 Christian Advocate 25 Jan. 153/3 It is the most perfect window cleaner and mirror polish made.
1977 Consumer Expenditure Surv. 1972–4 (U.S. Dept. Labor) 11 Other cleaning supplies includes floor wax, oven cleaners,..spot remover, wax remover, window cleaner.
1993 Atlantic Oct. 76/2 Martha had my Hoover out, and the bucket of window cleaner and mops and whatnot.
2016 Tampa Bay (Florida) Times (Nexis) 20 Sept. (Local section) 1 She grabbed a bottle of window cleaner and sprayed him in the face.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1781