Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to solicit, to work as a prostitute.

1797

M. Leeson Memoirs (1995) III 184: Her husband was arrested for debts she had contracted [...] she herself, by what I can understand, is contented now to char about the prison, and dispense her favours around, for a casual support.

2. to work as a cleaner, usu. in a private house; thus char(r)ing n.

1754		Trial of Elizabeth Canning in Howell State Trials (1816) 564: I chare [sic] at 'squire Parsons's, in washing and ironing.
1777		Thrale Thraliana i Aug.-Sept. 115: One, who keeps a great Inn in Smithfield, took the poor Creature home to her for a few Days, & when She had recover’d her Strength a little, permitted her to do Charring Work as it is called.
1835		Duncombe Dens of London 101: Some, too, went out to char and wash.
1837		Leeds Times 4 Feb. 3/2: She earned a part of their living by charring, as it is called.
1848		West Kent Guardian 29 Apr. 6/4: She obtained her livelihood by means of what is termed ‘charring,’ that is, going out to work by the day house-cleaning.
1850		Birmingham Jrnl 28 Sept. 6/3: Public nurseries for the reception of children of poor parents, who are compelled to work in factories, or go out charring.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 307/1: She has a place she goes to work at. She has 3s. a-week for washing, for charing, and for mangling: the party my wife works for has a mangle.
1866		Wild Boys of London I 6/2: Some on ’em goes charing and washing.
1888		J. Runciman Chequers 53: Missus is out charin’.
1897		W.S. Maugham Liza of Lambeth (1966) 17: Wot with the work I ’ave ter to do lookin’ after you [...] and goin’ aht charring besides.
1900		A. Wakeman Autobiog. of a Charwoman 190: I was doin’ my day’s char, in me reg’lar place.
1911		A. Bennett Card (1974) 175: As she’s going out charing, why can’t you have her and put a bit of bread into her mouth?
1914		R. Tressell Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (1955) 336: She had a chance of earning a few shillings by doing a day’s charing for some lady.
1916		T. Burke Limehouse Nights 301: Goes out charing, or does needlework.
1923		P. MacGill Moleskin Joe 71: Does chars, she does. [...] Then she comes in and dishes me up a meal. The out to chars again.
1929		B. Duffy Rocky Road 120: I often say when I’m out charin’: ‘Mid pleasures and palaces [...] there’s no place like a lobby.’.
1936		W. Holtby South Riding (1988) 332: She could always get a day’s charring, or cooking.
1946		Nottingham Eve. Post 19 Oct. 4/6: Lad Sent ‘Charring’ [...] The boy worked seven days a week [...] He was simply put out ‘charring’.
1956		‘Charles Raven’ Und. Nights 168: Phyl had got a new job cleaning – charring, as we called it in those days.
1979		C. Dexter Service of all the Dead (1980) 78: The woman who charred for him had seen it several times on his desk.
1993		(con. 1930s) M. Verdon Shawlies, Echo Boys, the Marsh and the Lanes 88: When the oldest daughter was ten that left me free to do a bit of charing for a few shillings a week.