hired girl

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A female domestic servant: "hired girl" refers to a woman or young woman who is employed to perform household tasks, such as cleaning, cooking, or childcare, typically in a private home. This term is primarily used in historical or rural contexts in North America.
Usage Examples
  • (A female servant hired for domestic duties.)
  • (A temporary female worker in a rural household.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to work as a hired girl": to be employed as a domestic servant.

    • She worked as a hired girl for several years before starting her own family. (She performed household chores for wages.)

  • "hired girl" vs. "maid": The term "hired girl" often implies a less formal, temporary, or seasonal arrangement compared to a permanent "maid" or "servant."

    • In rural areas, a hired girl might be a neighbor's daughter helping out for extra income. (A casual, part-time domestic worker.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Hired hand (n): a person employed to do manual work, especially on a farm.

    • The farmer brought in a hired hand to help with the harvest. (A male or female farm laborer.)

  • Hired man (n): a male domestic or farm worker.

    • The hired man fixed the fence and fed the livestock. (A male employee doing physical work.)
Synonyms
  • Maid: a female domestic servant (often implies a more formal or permanent role).
  • Servant: a person employed to perform domestic duties (gender-neutral, but can be used for females).
  • Domestic help: a general term for household workers.
Related Idioms
  • "Hired girl" is not commonly used in idioms, but it appears in historical literature and folklore, e.g., (A description of a domestic worker.)
Cultural Note
  • In modern English, "hired girl" is considered somewhat dated or regional. It is more common in historical fiction or discussions of 19th- and early 20th-century life, especially in rural North America. The term "domestic worker" or "housekeeper" is now more standard.