Washies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small, informal articles of clothing meant for light washing or used during washing routines ; minor or trivial items subject to cleaning; occasional diminutive forms for washcloths or wash-related accessories
2. Referring to delicate or infrequent garments or materials designated for laundering; casual terms for small washing items; sometimes a colloquial term for small cleaning cloths or tools
3. Used as a plural form for diminutive washing-related items; denotes small pieces intended for light washing purposes; can imply minor products associated with cleansing or washing tasks

Etymology: "Washies" is the plural of "washy," which is a plain formation: the Old English verb "wascan," meaning to wash, gave Middle English "waschen" and then Modern English "wash," and the suffix "-y" was added to it. That suffix comes from Old English "-ig," a common way of turning a noun or verb into an adjective meaning "full of" or "having the quality of." In the case of "washies," the noun form is used for small items that go into the wash, such as socks, tea towels and underwear. The plural simply pairs the everyday sense of "washy" with the regular "-s" ending, so the word needed no special history to arrive at its current use.

Synonyms: washcloths, sponges, cloths, scrubbers, bathcloths