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Origin and history of washer

washer(n.1)

"person who washes; professional cleaner," by 1520s, agent noun from wash (v.). From 1808 as "machine that washes." By 1958 as short for dishwasher.

It is attested from mid-15c as "sweater," that is, one who uses acids, etc., to corrode precious metal from coins. From early 14c. as the name of a bird, mid-14c. as a kind of smith's tool or device.

An earlier name for "one who washes" was washester (Old English waescestre), in Old English used of men and women, with -ster. Washer-woman "woman who washes clothes for others for hire" is from 1630s; earlier wash-woman (1580s).

also from 1520s

washer(n.2)

"flat ring for sealing joints or holding nuts," mid-14c., generally considered an agent noun of wash (v.), but the sense connection is difficult, and the noun may derive instead from the ancestor of French vis "screw, vise" (see vise).

also from mid-14c.

Entries linking to washer

vise(n.)

early 14c., "a winch, a crane for lifting," from Anglo-French vice, Old French vis, viz "screw," from Latin vītis "vine, tendril of a vine," literally "that which winds," from root of viere "to bind, twist" (from PIE root *wei- "to turn, twist, bend").

The meaning "clamping tool with two jaws closed by a screw," used to hold an object firmly in place when working on it, is attested from c. 1500.

Also in Middle English of the device like a screw or winch for bending a crossbow or catapult; the newel of a spiraling staircase; the screw of a press; and a twisted tie for fastening a hood under the chin.

wash(v.)

"apply water or liquid to for purposes of cleansing," Middle English washen, from Old English wascan "cleanse, bathe," also "cleanse spiritually" (of sin, guilt); transitive sense in late Old English; from Proto-Germanic *watskan "to wash" (source also of Old Norse vaska, Middle Dutch wasscen, Dutch wassen, German waschen), from PIE root *wed- (1) "water; wet." Related: Washed; washing.

In the literal sense used mainly of clothes in Old English (the principal verb for washing the body, dishes, etc. being þwean). Old French gaschier "to stain, soil; soak, wash" (Modern French gâcher) is from Frankish *waskan, from the same Germanic source. Italian guazzare also is a Germanic loan-word. See gu-.

By 1530s as "rinse the mouth." To wash up "clean table utensils after a meal" is from 1751 (compare washed-up). To wash down (solid food, with a liquid) is by c. 1600. To wash (one's) hands of "forsake involvement in" (an iniquity, etc.) is attested by 1550s (Lady Jane Grey), an image from Pilate in Matthew xxvii.24.