house-sittingn.
/ˈhaʊsˌsɪtɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈhaʊ(s)ˌsɪdɪŋ/ Originally U.S.
The action or service of living in and looking after a house in the absence of the usual occupants, often as a commercial service; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > [noun] > keeping or custody > care or custody of a house, etc.
caretaking1895
house-sitting1968
home-sitting1970
1968 Washington Post 22 Aug. f1/1 One of the growing summer traditions in the metropolitan area is ‘house-sitting’. Wealthy homeowners invite struggling young married couples to mind their houses while they are away on vacations.
1979 Yale Apr. 38/1 (advt.) Wanted. Summer housesitting or sublet, Manhattan or Westchester-Greenwich.
1987 Independent 18 Apr. 12/4 Informal house-sitting arrangements can be made simply by advertising in a local shop.
2003 Eve Aug. 16 House-sitting is big business in the south of France, where there are lots of gorgeous holiday homes left empty and vulnerable for most of the year.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1968- twelve-divided
- twelve-eight
- twelve-feet
- twelve-foot
- twelve-footed
- twelve-fruited
- twelve-gated
- twelve-gauge
- twelve-gemmed
- twelve-head
- twelve-headed
- twelve-hole
- twelve-horse
- twelve-hour
- twelve-inch
- twelve-incher
- tucker
- tucker out
- tucker's earth
- tuckered
- tuckered out
- tuckering
- tuckerless
- tuckers
- tucket