US /ˈtaɪɚˌwʊmən/ UK /ˈtaɪəˌwʊmən/
noun

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    archaic: a lady's maid who helps her employer dress and arrange her clothes or hair

    The duchess asked her tirewoman to fasten the elaborate headdress.

  2. 2
    noun

    historical theater: a female dresser or wardrobe assistant

    Backstage, the tirewoman repaired a torn sleeve before the actor's entrance.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · archaic: a lady's maid who... lady's maiddresserattendant
2 noun · historical theater: a... wardrobe assistantdresser
Word family
Forms tirewomen
Related forms tiremanattirewardrobe

Etymology

From tire + woman. Here tire is the older noun and verb meaning "attire; dress," not fatigue or a wheel covering, so the compound names a woman employed to dress someone or manage theatrical clothing.

Topics

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