Course used to be owned by female cleaners (11)

I believe the answer is:

dishwashers

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'female cleaners' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'course used to be owned' is the wordplay.
'course' becomes 'dish' (dish can mean a course of a meal).
'used to be' becomes 'was' (eg 'he was...' means 'he used to be...').
'owned' becomes 'hers' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'dish'+'was'+'hers'='DISHWASHERS'

'by' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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