Forms: 6–7 landres(se, laundres(se, (7 landeress, lawndresse), 7–8 landress, 7– laundress. [f. LAUNDER v. + -ESS.]
1. A woman whose occupation it is to wash and ‘get up’ linen.
1550. Coverdale, Spirituall Perle, vi. (1560), 75. As the dier, blecher, or the laundresse washeth … the foule, vncleanly and defiled clothes.
1555. Eden, Decades, 319. He sent to lande certeyne of his men with the landresses of the shyppes.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., III. iii. 155. Carry them to the Landresse in Datchet mead.
1623. Middleton, More Dissemblers, V. i. 104. His jealous laundress, That for the love she bears him starches yellow.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 189, ¶ 3. Write down what you give out to your Landress, and what she brings Home again.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., II. § 2. She employs milliners, laundresses, tire-women.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xvii. V. 68. A Dutchwoman … employed as a laundress at Whitehall.
2. A caretaker of chambers in the Inns of Court.
1592. Greene, Groat’s W. Wit (1617), 29. His hostesse writte vp the wofull remembrance of him, his Laundresse and his boy.
1611. L. Barry, Ram Alley, I. i. No punie Inne a Court But keepes a Landresse at his command To doe him seruice.
1731. Gentl. Mag., I. 206/2. He had been very careful to avoid the Use of the Words Chambers, Laundress, &c.
1836. Dickens, Pickw., xx. It’s a curious circumstance, Sam, that they call the old women in these inns, laundresses.
1841. S. Warren, Ten Thous. a Year, III. 357. Greatly to the surprise of his laundress, he made his appearance at his chambers between six and seven o’clock in the morning.
