laundromat
UK[ˈlɔːn.drə.mæt]US[ˈlɑːn.drə.mæt]
n
a place where you pay to use washing machines and dryers to clean your clothes.
Morpheme Breakdown
laundry
o
mat
laundry
o
mat
Etymology
the word 'laundromat' is a mid-20th century american english coinage, a classic example of a proprietary name becoming generic. it is a portmanteau, cleverly blending 'laundry' with the ending of 'automat'. 'laundry' traces back to latin 'lavare' (to wash), while 'automat' derives from greek 'automatos' (self-acting). the logic is transparent: it denotes an establishment featuring automatic, self-service laundry machines. the connective 'o' facilitates pronunciation, creating a catchy, modern-sounding term for a then-novel service model.
Analysis
Structure: laundry + o + mat
laundry (english, from old french 'lavanderie', meaning the act or place of washing clothes) + o (connective vowel, used for euphony in word formation) + mat (shortened form of 'automat', from greek 'automatos', meaning self-acting or automatic).
Examples
i don't have a washing machine at my apartment, so i take all my clothes to the laundromat.
the laundromat on the corner is open 24 hours a day.
she spent her saturday afternoon reading a magazine while waiting at the laundromat.