1 housemaid | Definition of housemaid

housemaid

noun
house·​maid | \ ˈhau̇s-ˌmād How to pronounce housemaid (audio) \

Definition of housemaid

: a girl or woman who is a servant employed to do housework

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Synonyms for housemaid

Synonyms

biddy, char [British], charwoman, handmaiden (also handmaid), house girl, housekeeper, maid, maidservant, skivvy [British], wench

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Examples of housemaid in a Sentence

scrubbing the floors invariably fell to the lowliest housemaid

Recent Examples on the Web

The Don’s resident doctor (Roberto De Francesco) cynically prepares to operate, while the housemaid brings coffee and holds the boy down. Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Mayor of Rione Sanita' ('Il sindaco di Rione Sanita'): Film Review | Venice 2019," 30 Aug. 2019 During the ceremony, three svelte housemaids eye Grace with silent disdain. Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, "“Ready or Not,” a Screwball Take on the Hide-And-Seek Slasher Film," 24 Aug. 2019 Fagan chose Anna Smith, later Bates, the head housemaid. Steve Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago-area ‘Downton Abbey’ fans don their vintage finery for ‘Downton Live’ bash in Pilsen," 19 Aug. 2019 Each book follows a simple formula: Amelia Bedelia, a housemaid replete with apron and frilled cap, encounters various domestic imperatives: clean the house, host a party, babysit, substitute-teach. Sarah Blackwood, The New Yorker, "The Secret Rebellion of Amelia Bedelia, the Bartleby of Domestic Work," 10 June 2019 Even the kindness of her fellow housemaid Pru cannot convince her to settle for such tough, demeaning work. The Washington Post, The Mercury News, "A stunning examination of humanity, race and class," 6 June 2019 The uniforms were actually created so that the nannies would not be mistaken for housemaids but nowadays, most Norlanders wear smart, practical civilian clothing to fit in with modern families. Annabelle Spranklen, Town & Country, "Here's What It Takes to Become a Nanny for the British Royal Family," 9 Mar. 2019 When Ada’s fingers fidgeted too much, a housemaid attempted to bag the little girl’s hands in black cotton. Abigail Deutsch, WSJ, "‘In Byron’s Wake’ Review: Lout and Ladies," 13 Dec. 2018 Both had grandmothers who worked there as housemaids; both noted that there had been years of concerns about contamination and pollution from the lab. Michael Cooper, New York Times, "Bringing ‘Doctor Atomic’ to the Birthplace of the Bomb," 6 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'housemaid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of housemaid

1673, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for housemaid

housemaid

noun

English Language Learners Definition of housemaid

chiefly British, old-fashioned : a female servant who does cleaning, laundry, etc.

housemaid

noun
house·​maid | \ ˈhau̇s-ˌmād How to pronounce housemaid (audio) \

Kids Definition of housemaid

: a woman or girl hired to do housework

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More from Merriam-Webster on housemaid

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with housemaid

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for housemaid

Spanish Central: Translation of housemaid

Nglish: Translation of housemaid for Spanish Speakers