Where does “washerwife” come from?
washerwife (Scots) comes from Scots wife, from Middle English wyf, from Old English wīf, from Proto-West Germanic wīb, from Proto-Germanic wībą, from Proto-Indo-European gʰwíh₂bʰ- — shame, pudenda.
washerwife (Scots): washerwoman
Definitions
- washerwoman
Ancestry of “washerwife”, step by step
washerwife traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Scots wife
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scots | wife | woman; wife |
| 2 | Middle English | wyf | Alternative form of wif |
| 3 | Old English | wīf | wife; woman, female, lady, wife; female |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | wīb | woman; wife |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wībą | woman; wife |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰwíh₂bʰ- | shame, pudenda |
via Scots washer
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scots | washer | — |