wash machine meaning (informal): definition, quotations

wash machine

nounalso spelled wash-machine

Informal Synonym of washing machine.

BRIDGEPORT-The D. M. Read Co.; W. W. Taylor, electrical refrigerators, wash machines, house furnishings; […]1928 June 29, “ARRIVAL OF BUYERS”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Dec 2025:
The “wash machine,” a huge wooden basket, works nearly the same way as the modern version.1963 April 21, Elaine S. Zimbel, George Zimbel, “OLD MANSION ON THE HUDSON; […

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Mr. Lefrak said at a news conference that his plan entailed conversion of all wash machines in his buildings to cold‐water use; […]1973 October 24, Nathaniel Sheppard Jr., “Oil Shortage May Raise Electric Bills Here”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Dec 2025:
No matter how outrageous his hats get, he insists that each one is designed for the wearer. "I can't just send people out with a wash machine or a typewriter on their head," Mr. Treacy said. "I like a hat to have shapes relevant to the human form because somebody's got to wear it."1992 April 5, Martha Ann Overland, “Style Makers; Philip Treacy, Hat Designer”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Dec 2025:
Lynsea’s mom, Karen Robinson, sighs at her daughter’s get-ups--the pajama bottoms, the punk-red streaks through the hair, the grungy overalls that “don’t you dare” throw in the wash machine.1993 March 28, Lois Timnick, Bernice Hirabayashi, “Educators want to give kids fashion freedom, […]”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 04 Dec 2025:
The little scrap was about an inch or two across and might have survived a wash-machine trip.2015 June 22, Gary Antonick, quoting Dr. W [pseudonym], “Steve Humble’s Neighbor Problem”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 Jun 2015:

wash-machine

noun

Dated Dated form of wash machine.

Warping and sizing blankets 76 yds. d10; wash-machine, d14, - - - - - [Dolls.] 24 [Cts.] 001808 September 8, “The Accounts of the Guardians of the Poor, and Managers of the Alms House and House of Employment, […]”, in General Aurora Advertiser, number 5490, Philadelphia, Pa.: […] William J. Duane, and Co. […], →ISSN, →OCLC, page [3], column 2:
There are in the Patent Office at Washington, not less thon^([sic]) seventy five distinct patents for Yankee wash-machines; […]1849 May 16, “Fecundity of Yankee Ingenuity”, in The Daily True Democrat, volume 3, number 110, Cleveland, Oh., →OCLC, page [2], column 1:

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We have not only had mangles, wash-machines, dumb-waiters, cooking stoves, churns, &c., without number, but the friends of woman-kind are trying to get up methods by which the clothes can wash themselves; […]1850 October 26, “More Help for the Girls”, in John H. Pearsol, editor, The Saturday Express. […], volume 8, number 12, Lancaster, Pa.: John H. Pearsol, →OCLC, page [2], column 2:
In addition to the Tavern, a store is generally kept, containing tin kettles and pins, gilt breast-pins and calico, soap and candy, vinegar and wash-machines, fish-hooks and peppermint, and as great a variety of notions as any Yankee ever carried in his pack.1851 July 18, W. H[.] H., “From the Easton Argus. Life in Virginia.”, in R. W. Weaver, editor, The Star of the North, volume 3, number 32, Bloomsburg, Pa., published 4 September 1851, →ISSN, →OCLC, front page, column 2:
Like now the war is over and we are gonna have all kinds electric things again, toasters, curlers, wash-machines, flatirons, everything.1945 October 28, “About--; --ENTERPRISE”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Dec 2025: