Where does “laundromat” come from?
laundromat (English) comes from English laundry, from Middle English lavendrie, from Old French lavanderie, from Latin lavandaria, from Latin lavandarium, from Latin lavare, from Latin lavo, from Proto-Italic lawaō — to wash.
laundromat (English): A self-service laundry facility with (traditionally) coin-operated (which now may use other per-load payment methods) washing machines, dryers, and sometimes ironing or pressing machines, open to the public for washing clothing and household cloth items
Definitions
- A self-service laundry facility with (traditionally) coin-operated (which now may use other per-load payment methods) washing machines, dryers, and sometimes ironing or pressing machines, open to the public for washing clothing and household cloth items
Ancestry of “laundromat”, step by step
laundromat traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English laundry
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | laundry | A laundering; a washing; A place or room where... |
| 2 | Middle English | lavendrie | A part of a manor or a facility for washing clothes; a laundry |
| 3 | Old French | lavanderie | laundry |
| 4 | Latin | lavandaria | — |
| 5 | Latin | lavandarium | — |
| 6 | Latin | lavare | present active infinitive of lavō; second-person... |
| 7 | Latin | lavo | I wash, bathe; I wet, moisten |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | lawaō | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | léwh₃eti | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | lewh₃- | to wash |
via English automatic
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | automatic | Capable of operating without external control or... |
| 2 | French | automatique | automatic |
| 3 | French | automate | automaton |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | αὐτόματον | accident, mere chance |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | αὐτόματος | self-willed, unbidden; self-moving,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | μέμαα | to wish eagerly, strive, yearn, desire |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | μέμονα | to be minded or inclined; to be eager; to hasten |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | memóne | to think, to be mindful; to remember |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |