'ladies-in-waiting' originates from English, specifically the compound 'lady-in-waiting', where 'lady' comes from Old English 'hlǣfdige' meaning 'mistress (of a household)' and 'in waiting' meant 'in attendance'.

'ladies-in-waiting' changed from Middle English compound phrases (e.g. forms like 'ladyes in weyting') and eventually became the modern English phrase 'ladies-in-waiting'.

Initially, 'lady' (from Old English 'hlǣfdige') referred to a household mistress (originally related to 'bread-kneader'), and 'in waiting' simply meant 'being in attendance'; over time the compound evolved to mean specifically a noblewoman serving as a personal attendant to a queen or princess.