washateria

[ wosh-uh-teer-ee-uh, waw-shuh- ]

noun

, Chiefly Southern U.S.

1. a launderette.

Word History and Origins

Origin of washateria¹

1935–40; wash + (caf)eteria, with -a- as variant spelling of (ə)

Example Sentences

A Kwethluk city employee waited to give the senator a handout describing a port project, while another village official asked for help with a broken washateria, first built in 1975, that had left them without running water since Christmas.

From New York Times

At Washateria 4 You, the scent of fresh laundry filled the air on a recent Monday as dryers whirled.

From Washington Times

Felicia is 25 and the sole employee of the Castle Rock Washateria, where she washes, dries, folds and sometimes delivers.

From The Guardian

Felicia Gagnon Most of my customers at the Washateria were for him, so I decided I was, too.

From The Guardian

As he turns into the Washateria parking lot, he sees a black man and three Hispanic men standing next to their cars.

From New York Times