servant-girl

The servant-girl carries a tray of tea into the drawing room.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A female servant: "servant-girl" refers to a young woman or girl employed to perform domestic duties in a household, such as cleaning, cooking, or waiting on family members.

Usage Examples

• (A young female domestic employee.)
• (A female household worker performing traditional duties.)

Advanced Usage

• "servant-girl" as a historical or literary term: Often used in 19th-century fiction or descriptions of past social structures to denote a low-ranking domestic worker, typically younger than a maid or housekeeper.
  • The servant-girl curtsied before leaving the room. (A formal gesture from a young female domestic worker.)

Variants and Related Words

• Servant-maid (n): a synonym for servant-girl, emphasizing the domestic role.

  • The servant-maid brought tea to the guests. (A female domestic servant.)

• Maid (n): a shortened term for a female domestic servant, often implying a servant-girl or house cleaner.

  • The maid swept the floors each morning. (A female domestic worker.)

Synonyms

• Domestic servant: a general term for a household employee.

  • She worked as a domestic servant in a large estate. (A household employee.)

• Housemaid: a female servant specializing in cleaning and household tasks.

  • The housemaid polished the silverware. (A female domestic worker.)

Related Idioms

• "Servant-girl’s work": a phrase used to describe menial or repetitive household tasks.

  • She felt her job was nothing but servant-girl’s work. (Unpleasant, low-status domestic labor.)

• "Like a servant-girl": a simile used to describe someone performing humble, subservient duties.

  • He was treated like a servant-girl, always fetching and carrying. (In a submissive, lowly role.)