Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A woman who cleans houses and offices as an occupation.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From char ("chore") + lady.

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Examples

  • Richard VineThe third one-off special in this prequel series to Only Fools And Horses sees the Trotters still stuck in 1961, with Joan holding the family together as layabout husband and Grandad look on, while carrying on an affair with Rodney's dad Freddie, under the pretext of working as his charlady.

    Tonight's TV highlights: Sir Bobby Charlton: Football Icon | Rock & Chips | My Big Fat Royal Gypsy Wedding | Chuck | The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz – The True Story | V 2011

  • A look at his humble origins gives some insight into the actor's fondness for money: the son of a fish market worker and a charlady, Michael, born Maurice Micklewhite, grew up dirt poor in London.

    John Farr: Praising Caine: The Original "Alfie" Turns 76 2009

  • The street was empty but for an old woman — charlady she seemed to be — standing with a duster in her hand on the doorstep of the next house.

    On Forsyte 'Change 2004

  • Mrs. Ruddle had been employed as a charlady when the Wimseys first moved into the house, and had never quite resigned the right to come and go there.

    Presumption of Death Sayers, Dorothy L. 2002

  • Lucinda Craig Harvey, who shared a house in London with Sarah and later employed Diana as a cleaner for £1 an hour, first met her prospective charlady during a cricket match at Althorp.

    DIANA ANDREW MORTON 1992

  • She signed up for two employment agencies: Solve Your Problems and Knightsbridge Nannies, and worked as a waitress at private parties and as a charlady.

    DIANA ANDREW MORTON 1992

  • Lucinda Craig Harvey, who shared a house in London with Sarah and later employed Diana as a cleaner for £1 an hour, first met her prospective charlady during a cricket match at Althorp.

    DIANA ANDREW MORTON 1992

  • She signed up for two employment agencies: Solve Your Problems and Knightsbridge Nannies, and worked as a waitress at private parties and as a charlady.

    DIANA ANDREW MORTON 1992

  • On the Tuesday following, Mr. Parker was just wrestling in prayer with his charlady, who had a tiresome habit of boiling his breakfast kippers till they resembled heavily pickled loofahs, when the telephone whirred aggressively.

    Unnatural Death Sayers, Dorothy L.Lord Peter 03 1988

  • It is lacking in the Lane-Pontifexes, who make her spirits sink every time they ask the Minivers to dinner; but it is there in abundance in Mrs. B, the new charlady, "with her large good-humoured laugh".

    Mrs. Miniver 1939

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