housekeeping (n.)

1540s, "management of domestic concerns," perhaps a back-formation from housekeeper.

Entries linking to housekeeping

mid-15c., "householder," from house (n.) + keeper. A later equivalent of householder. The sense of "female head domestic servant of a house" is from c. 1600 (to keep house, as part of a wife's duty, is from late 14c.). Housekeep (v.) is from 1842 and appears to be a back-formation.

Share housekeeping

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/housekeeping

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/housekeeping">Etymology of housekeeping by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of housekeeping. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/housekeeping

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of housekeeping,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/housekeeping.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of housekeeping.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/housekeeping. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of housekeeping.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/housekeeping (accessed $(datetime)).

updated on September 08, 2015

Definitions of housekeeping from WordNet

housekeeping (n.)

the work of cleaning and running a house;

Synonyms: housework

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near housekeeping

housefly

houseful

household

householder

housekeeper

housekeeping

housemaid

housemate

housetop

housewarming

housewife