blanchisseuse

The blanchisseuse is the hardest worker among the whole population; -- her daily labor is rarely less than thirteen hours; and during the greater part of that time she is working in the sun, and standing up to her knees in water that descends quite cold from the mountain peaks.

Two Years in the French West Indies Lafcadio Hearn 1877

"And are you quite proficient as a _blanchisseuse?"

Amarilly of Clothes-line Alley Belle Kanaris Maniates

Elle, blanchisseuse de fin, a développé un secret dans la façon d'empeser les plastrons de chemises.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, February 28, 1891 Various

The inn we occupied had one of these porches: Madame Barbot, our landlady, and her maid, were both dressed in Breton costume, with lace-trimmed embroidered caps and aprons of fine muslin, clear-starched and ironed with a perfection which the most accomplished "blanchisseuse du fin" of Paris would find it difficult to surpass.

Brittany & Its Byways Fanny Bury Palliser

So the Widow Twankey was sought out, and Betty stood and looked appealingly humble while Etta Cavendish suffered her ribs to be prodded in a good cause, and the Widow agreed to "wash for" Betty at rates that would have brought blushes to the cheeks of a Parisian _blanchisseuse de fin_.

The Long Trick 1886-1967 Bartimeus 1926

For you must know that Rienäcker has for some time past enjoyed another tint, indeed ash-blond, and if what Balafré lately told me is true, he has been seriously considering whether he should not raise his blanchisseuse to the rank of la dame blanche.

Chapter VIII 1917

Aunt Polly embroidered quite as well as any professional needlewoman; her English thread lace was transferred from one dress to another and her India muslins must have been exquisite, so she appreciated a proper blanchisseuse.

My beloved South, Mrs. T. P. O 1914

She still lives about the Quarter, and, though there is always a soldat, she has become a blanchisseuse de fin.

Alexander's Bridge 1912

My gracious! the best blanchisseuse in the land could not cope successfully with all that flimsy finery, laces and ribbons.

Social life in old New Orleans : being recollections of my girlhood, 1912

But she had to be up and working: the blanchisseuse had to be paid, and Mme. Clopin's weekly bill, and all the little "extras" that even her frugal habits had to reckon with.

The Letters 1910