Where does “charlady” come from?
charlady (English) comes from English char, from English cha, from Hindi चा, from Persian چا, from Chinese 茶, from Proto-Loloish la¹, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan s-la — leaf; tea; flat object.
charlady (English): A woman who cleans houses and offices as an...
Definitions
- A woman who cleans houses and offices as an...
Ancestry of “charlady”, step by step
charlady traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English char
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | char | To burn something to charcoal; To burn slightly... |
| 2 | English | cha | tea, sometimes specifically masala chai; You;... |
| 3 | Hindi | चा | Alternative form of चाय |
| 4 | Persian | چا | tea |
| 5 | Chinese | 茶 | tea |
| 6 | Proto-Loloish | la¹ | tea |
| 7 | Proto-Sino-Tibetan | s-la | leaf; tea; flat object |
via English lady
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | lady | The mistress of a household; A woman of breeding... |
| 2 | Middle English | lady | A woman with authority or leadership |
| 3 | Old English | hlǣfdīġe | bread-kneader; mistress of a household, wife of a... |
| 4 | Old English | hlāf | bread, loaf; bread, loaf, morsel; loaf, cake,... |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | hlaib | bread, loaf |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hlaibaz | bread |