amah
[ah-muh, am-uh]
- a baby's nurse, especially a wet nurse.
- a female servant; maid.
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Origin of amah
1830–40; < Portuguese ama nurse, governess < Medieval Latin amma wet nurse, perhaps alteration of Latin mamma breast
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for amah
Historical Examples
Then he makes up his mind the best thing is to leave Daisy with the Amah.
East of SuezWilliam Somerset Maugham
I told you I wouldn't have your disgusting pipe in here, amah.
East of SuezWilliam Somerset Maugham
It's very convenient that you should always be within earshot when you're wanted, amah.
East of SuezWilliam Somerset Maugham
I've never seen anyone let an amah behave as you let her behave.
East of SuezWilliam Somerset Maugham
It was very easy for him to get into the room after amah and I went away.
East of SuezWilliam Somerset Maugham
amah
- (in the East, esp formerly) a nurse or maidservant, esp one of Chinese originCompare ayah
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Word Origin
C19: from Portuguese ama nurse, wet nurse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for amah
n.
"wet-nurse," 1839, Anglo-Indian, from Portuguese ama "nurse," from Medieval Latin amma "mother," from PIE root *am-, forming nursery words.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper