amah

American  

[ah-muh, am-uh] / ˈɑ mə, ˈæm ə /

noun

1. a baby's nurse, especially a wet nurse.

2. a female servant; maid.

---

amah British  

/ ˈɑːmə, ˈæmə /

noun

1. (in the East, esp formerly) a nurse or maidservant, esp one of Chinese origin Compare ayah

---

Etymology

Origin of amah

First recorded in 1830–40; from Portuguese ama “nurse, governess” from Medieval Latin amma “wet nurse,” perhaps alteration of Latin mamma “breast”