'manservant' originates from English, formed as a compound of 'man' and 'servant'. 'Man' traces to Old English 'mann' meaning 'adult male', while 'servant' comes from Old French 'servant', from Latin 'serviens' (from 'servire') meaning 'to serve'.

'manservant' developed as the compound 'man-servant' in Middle/Modern English and eventually became the modern English word 'manservant'.

Initially, it meant 'a male who serves (in a household)', and over time it has retained that core meaning though usage has become more formal or old-fashioned.