servant girl
Definition
Noun: A female domestic worker, typically young, who is employed to perform household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and running errands within a household.
Usage
The term "servant girl" specifically refers to a young female in a domestic service role. It is a compound noun where "servant" indicates the occupation and "girl" specifies the age and gender. It is often used in historical or literary contexts.
Examples
- In the 19th-century novel, the servant girl rose before dawn to light the fires.
- The wealthy family employed a servant girl to help with the daily chores.
- She worked as a servant girl in the manor house.
Advanced Usage
- The term can carry connotations of social class, historical settings, and sometimes vulnerability due to the power dynamics inherent in domestic service.
- In modern usage, the term is largely historical or literary, as contemporary roles are more likely described as "domestic worker," "housekeeper," or "cleaner," without the age-specific "girl."
Variants and Related Words
- Maidservant (n): A more formal or historical synonym for a female servant.
- Housemaid (n): A female servant employed to clean and maintain a house.
- Scullery maid (n): A young female servant, historically, assigned to the most menial kitchen tasks.
- Domestic (n): A formal term for a household servant.
Synonyms
- Maid
- Housemaid
- Maidservant
- Domestic help
Antonyms
- Employer
- Mistress (of the house)
- Master (of the house)
Related Phrases
- In service: A historical phrase meaning employed as a domestic servant.
- She went into service at the age of fourteen.
Noun
-
a girl who is a servant
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