Forms: 6 charr-, charre-, 7–8 chare-, chairwoman, 8–9 charwoman. [f. CHARE sb.1 5, v.1 5 + WOMAN.
The spellings chare- chair- have now gone out, though the pronunciation indicated by them is still frequent.]
A woman hired by the day to do odd jobs of household work.
α. 1596. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec., I. 116. All such yonge Wemen and others called Charr Wemen in this towne as are in noe service.
1597. Deloney, Jacke Newb., ix. 107 (1619), K 3 b. To bee a chare-Woman in rich mens houses.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 142, ¶ 6. Illicit correspondence with cottagers and charwomen.
1861. W. Collins, Dead Secr., 66. He allowed no living soul, not even an occasional charwoman, to enter the house.
β. 1626. Fletcher, Fair M. of Inn, IV. ii. The witches of Lapland are the devil’s chairwomen.
1626. Bernard, Isle of Man (1627), 193. The Chare-woman, and her daughters Pocketing and Filch.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, I. 22. It is no good huswifery to hire Chair-women.
1725. Lond. Gaz., No. 6385/3. Elizabeth Maulkham … Charewoman.
1774. Westm. Mag., II. 550. As a Chairwoman was cleaning out an uninhabited house in Blaney’s Court.
