housemaid
|house-maid|
/ˈhaʊsmeɪd/
female domestic servant
Etymology
'housemaid' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'house' + 'maid', where 'house' meant 'dwelling' and 'maid' meant 'young woman' or 'female servant'.
'house' comes from Old English 'hūs' and 'maid' comes from Old English 'mægden' (maiden); the compound 'housemaid' developed in Modern English from these elements.
Initially, 'maid' meant 'young unmarried woman'; over time it evolved to mean 'female domestic servant', and 'housemaid' came to mean 'a female servant who performs household duties'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a female domestic worker employed in a private household to clean, cook, and perform other household tasks.
The housemaid cleaned the parlour and prepared dinner before the guests arrived.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/13 02:04