worker English · revision 5210

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=mid-14th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈwɜː.kə/, US /ˈwɝː.kɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|werker|alt=werker, worcher]], an agent noun [[af|enm|werken|-er|alt1=werken|alt2=-er]], from the verb [[work]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) Old English had wyrcend “worker, labourer”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A labourer, toiler, performer or doer: the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The OED's first quotations, from the 14th century, apply it to God as maker or creator.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A maker or craftsman is by the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and one who does work of any kind from 1382.^(OED 1989) The bee that performs the labour of the hive is from 1747, and ''worker-bee'' by 1816.^(Etymonline) One employed for a wage, especially in manual or industrial work, is from 1848.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In Lancashire a ''worker-out'' was a field labourer.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * mid-14th century – a labourer.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1382 – one who works.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1747 – a worker bee.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1848 – one employed for a wage.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who works, especially at a particular job: ''a social worker''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An employee, especially one doing manual or industrial work, as opposed to a manager.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A member of the [[working class]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sterile female [[ant]], [[bee]] or wasp that does the work of the colony.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[autoworker]]

+ * [[caseworker]]

+ * [[coworker]]

+ * [[dockworker]]

+ * [[farmworker]]

+ * [[glassworker]]

+ * [[homeworker]]

+ * [[houseworker]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[work]]

+ * [[workman]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}