charwoman
/ˈtʃɑːwʊmən
/noun (plural charwomen) British dated
A woman employed as a cleaner in a house or office.In the following six sections, the charwoman Mrs. McNab enters the house, ‘tearing the veil of silence’ of Charmichael's and Mr. Ramsay's poetic/metaphysical visions....
- Nancy Sharman recalled that her mother, a Southampton charwoman, had no time to read until her last illness, at age 54.
- I met a Battersea charwoman yesterday who was almost in tears because she lived on the wrong side of the street and couldn't vote for Saklatvala.
Origin
Late 16th century: from obsolete char or chare 'a turn of work, an odd job, chore' (obscurely related to chore) + woman.
The first element of this word is from obsolete char or chare meaning ‘a turn of work, an odd job, chore’. Chore (mid 18th century) is a variant.