Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The earning of a livelihood.
  • Serving to earn a livelihood: as, breadwinning pursuits or labors.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The earning of a household's primary income.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From bread +‎ winning. Compare West Frisian breawinning ("livelihood"), Dutch broodwinning ("profession").

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