barmaid

/'bɑ:meid/

Thân thiện

A barmaid pours a drink for a customer at the wooden bar.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A female bartender: A woman whose job is to serve drinks, especially alcoholic beverages, from behind a bar in a pub, tavern, or similar establishment.

Usage

• The word "barmaid" specifically refers to a woman who works serving drinks at a bar. It is a compound noun formed from "bar" + "maid". While historically common, the term is now sometimes considered dated or gender-specific. More neutral terms like "bartender" or "bar staff" are often preferred in modern usage.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The friendly barmaid served us our pints of ale.
  • She worked her way through university as a barmaid at the local pub.

Advanced Usage

• The term can sometimes carry historical or literary connotations, evoking a traditional pub atmosphere.
  • In many Victorian novels, the barmaid is a common character in the tavern scenes.

Variants and Related Words

• Bartender (n): A person who mixes and serves drinks at a bar. (Gender-neutral)
• Barman (n): A man who serves drinks at a bar.
• Bar staff (n): The collective term for people working behind a bar.

Synonyms

• Bartender (when referring to a woman in that role)
• Server (in a bar context)
• Tapster (archaic)

Notes on Usage

• While "barmaid" is a clear and specific term, its use has declined in favor of the gender-neutral "bartender" in many contemporary contexts to avoid gender stereotyping of the profession.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a female bartender