parlormaid

Thân thiện

The parlormaid answers the front door to greet a visitor.

Definition

Noun: A female domestic servant in a private household whose primary responsibilities are to maintain the parlor (the formal sitting room for receiving guests), to serve at the dining table, and to answer the front door.

Usage

The term specifically refers to a maid in a historical or traditional domestic service setting, indicating a role with specific, formal duties distinct from other servants like cooks or chambermaids. - The parlormaid announced the arrival of the guests. - In large households, the parlormaid was responsible for the silver and the china.

Advanced Usage

• The role of a was often part of a strict hierarchy within a domestic staff in upper-class homes, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Variants and Related Words

• Parlourmaid: An alternative, chiefly British, spelling of .
• Housemaid: A more general term for a female servant responsible for cleaning.
• Between-maid (or Tweeny): A junior maid who assisted both the cook and the housemaid, sometimes taking on some duties in smaller households.

Synonyms

• Maid
• Domestic servant
• Housemaid (though this is a broader term)

Notes on Meaning

This word is now largely historical or used in period contexts, as such specialized domestic roles are uncommon in modern households. It evokes a specific social and historical setting.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a maid in a private home whose duties are to care for the parlor and the table and to answer the door

Từ đồng nghĩa

• parlourmaid