[f. WASHER sb.1 + MAN sb.] A man whose occupation is the washing of clothes.
Chiefly designating the Chinese laundryman of the U.S. and the Asiatic native washer of clothes.
1715. T. Stevens, Hist. Persia, 77. His Beauty and Wealth made the Washerman sensible that the Parents must be great.
1743. Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 126. William Callicutt, Washerman.
1810. T. Williamson, E. Ind. Vade-mecum, I. 244. The Doby, or washerman, is also exclusively a domestic, washing for only one family.
1874. L. J. Trotter, Hist. India, Introd. 10. Each village kept … its own … schoolmaster, washerman, goldsmith, [etc.].
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., III. IV. lxxxi. 71. One trade, however, the Chinese are permitted to follow, and have now almost monopolized, that of washermen.
