Definition

Noun: A female domestic servant in a private household whose primary responsibilities include maintaining the parlor (the formal sitting room for receiving guests), setting and serving at the dining table, and answering the front door.

Usage

This term refers specifically to a type of household staff position that was common in larger, affluent homes, particularly during the 19th and early-to-mid 20th centuries. The role is characterized by its focus on the formal, public-facing areas of the home and interaction with guests.

Examples

• The parlourmaid announced the arrival of the visitors.
• Her duties as a parlourmaid included polishing the silver and answering the bell.
• In the grand house, the parlourmaid was responsible for keeping the drawing room immaculate.

Advanced Usage

• The position of parlourmaid was often part of a strict hierarchy within a household's servant staff, typically ranking above a housemaid but below the butler or housekeeper.
• The role has largely become obsolete in modern times, making the word primarily historical or literary in usage.

Variants and Related Words

• Parlormaid: An alternative spelling, primarily used in American English.
• Maid: A general term for a female domestic servant.
• Housemaid: A maid whose duties are more general and focused on cleaning and maintaining the household, often with less direct guest interaction than a parlourmaid.

Synonyms

• Serving maid
• Domestic servant (more general)
• Attendant (in a domestic context)

Antonyms

• Employer
• Mistress of the house (the female head of the household who might employ a parlourmaid)

Related Phrases/Idioms

(No common idioms or phrasal verbs are directly formed from this specific, historical job title.)

Noun

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