breadwinner
UK[ˈbredˌwɪnə]US[ˈbredˌwɪnər]
n
A person who earns money to support their family or household.
Morpheme Breakdown
bread
winner
bread
winner
Etymology
The term "breadwinner" is a compound word formed from two Old English elements. "Bread," a staple food, evolved metaphorically in English to signify a person's livelihood or means of subsistence, as seen in the phrase "to earn one's bread." "Winner" derives from the Old English winnan, meaning "to labor, strive, or gain." The compound emerged in the early 19th century, logically combining these concepts to denote "one who wins or secures the bread," i.e., the primary income earner responsible for providing for a family. Its formation reflects a straightforward, concrete metaphor for economic provision within a household.
Analysis
Structure: bread + winner
- bread (Old English): In this compound, it functions as a metaphorical element representing "food" or "the necessities of life".
- winner (Old English): Functions as an agent noun, meaning "one who obtains or secures something".
Examples
After her husband fell ill, she became the sole breadwinner for the family of five.
In many traditional households, the father was considered the primary breadwinner.
The factory closure left hundreds of the town's breadwinners unemployed.