maid

American  

[meyd] / meɪd /

noun

1. a female domestic employee who cleans tourist accommodations or does cleaning or other housework in a home.

   a hotel maid.

2. a female domestic servant with any of various duties, especially in a large house (often used in combination).

   a kitchen maid who assisted the cook; a handmaid; a lady’s maid; a nursery maid.

3. Archaic. a girl or young unmarried woman.

4. Archaic. a female virgin.

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maid British  

/ meɪd /

noun

1. archaic a young unmarried girl; maiden

2. 1. a female servant

   2. ( in combination )

      a housemaid

3. a spinster

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Other Word Forms

• maidish adjective
• maidishness noun
• submaid noun
• undermaid noun

Etymology

Origin of maid

First recorded in 1225–1275; Middle English maide, maid, shortened variant of maiden

Example Sentences

"It'd be nice for me to do something completely different. I'd love to do a comedy or I'd like to be a scullery maid in the kitchens in a period drama."

From BBC

There, butlers opened doors and ladies’ maids took wraps and bonnets into elegant dressing rooms.

From Literature

The mysterious love interest turns out not, in fact, to be his heart's desire from society, but a maid called Sophie Baek.

From BBC

All the air was knocked out of me and sparks flew in my eyes, but I had to run because the maid’s bellowing was sure to bring the guards after me any moment.

From Literature

Dunk and Egg’s camaraderie fits the same tradition, proposing scullery maids can become queens.

From Salon

Related Words

• au pair
• chambermaid
• girl
• housemaid