1. plural of laundress; women whose job is to wash and iron clothes and linens
Usage: somewhat dated term

Examples

• The hotel employed several laundresses to handle the daily washing.
• In the 19th century, laundresses worked long hours for little pay.
• The laundresses gathered at the river to wash clothes for wealthy families.
• Many laundresses operated small businesses from their homes.
• The factory hired laundresses to clean workers’ uniforms.
• Local laundresses competed for customers in the growing town.