'saleswoman' originates from the combination of 'sale' and 'woman', where 'sale' meant 'the act of selling' and 'woman' referred to a female adult.

'saleswoman' evolved from the Middle English word 'woman' combined with 'sale', eventually becoming the modern English word 'saleswoman'.

Initially, it meant 'a female involved in selling', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.