[f. WORK sb., after workman.] A woman who works; a female worker or operative; † a woman who does needlework.

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1530.  Palsgr., 290/1. Workewoman, ouueriere.

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1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, VI. 119. That they good workewomen may bin.

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1584.  R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XIII. iv. 291. Wherein … nature sheweth hir selfe a proper workwoman.

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1591.  Spenser, Muiopotmos, 260. The most fine-fingred workwoman on ground.

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1626.  T. H[awkins], trans. Caussin’s Holy Crt., 5. Vertue is a merueylous worke-woman, who can make Mercury of any wood.

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1675.  Hobbes, Odyssey (1677), 188. One of these merchants sooth’d her into sin: For good work-women may be made do that.

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1755.  Johnson, Workwoman … 2. A woman that works for hire.

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1843.  Penny Cycl., XXVII. 180/1. While the work-woman produces a kind of chain-work on the surface of the muslin.

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1865.  Esquiros, Cornwall, 74. The workwomen of the mines.

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1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xxxix. (1898), 263. To live here as a workwoman among other workwomen.

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  Hence Workwomanlike a. or adv., -womanly a.

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1641.  C. van Pas, Les abus du Mariage, Pl. 4. I now am Mistris of my crafte, and can Worke-womanlike deale in it.

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1894.  Westm. Gaz., 14 Nov., 6/2. The silver spade, to which she put her foot in true workwomanly fashion.

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