Obs. [f. BUCK sb.3 + WASH v.] The process of washing coarse and very dirty linen, by boiling it in an alkaline lye (BUCK sb.3), and afterwards beating and rinsing it in clear water; see bucking-washing in BUCKING vbl. sb.1 So Buck-washer; also dial. buck-wash.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., III. iii. 164. You were best meddle with buck-washing.
1611. Cotgr., Buandiere, a laundresse, or buck-washer.
1829. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), II. 26. His office of buckwasher, that is of verse corrector to his Majesty. Ibid. (1845), Cromwell’s Lett. & Sp. (1873), I. ii. 11. Such a job of buckwashing.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Wd.-bk. (E. D. S.), Buch-wesh or weshin’, a large wash of heavy, coarse linen…. In the buck-wesh no soap was used, but the linen was boiled in the buck-lee. It was then carried to a neighbouring stream or spring, and laid upon a smooth stone or a block … there the linen was beaten with a ‘bat-staff,’ after which it was well ‘swilled in the pure water.
