abigail

¹ American  

[ab-i-geyl] / ˈæb ɪˌgeɪl /

noun

1. a lady's maid.

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Abigail ² American  

[ab-i-geyl] / ˈæb ɪˌgeɪl /

noun

1. (in the Bible) the wife of Nabal and later of David.

2. a first name: from a Hebrew word meaning “joy of the father.”

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Abigail British  

/ ˈæbɪˌɡeɪl /

noun

1. Old Testament the woman who brought provisions to David and his followers and subsequently became his wife (I Samuel 25:1–42)

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Etymology

Origin of abigail

1645–55; after Abigail, name of attendant in play The Scornful Lady (1610), by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher

Example Sentences

At last she ventured to consult her confidential abigail, Sarah.

From Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 2 of 3) by Loudon, Margracia

I have prepared, however, another carriage for the abigail, and all the trumpery which our wives drag along with them.

From Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 3 With His Letters and Journals by Moore, Thomas

"He is gone at last," said the abigail, sipping her glass; "and here is to his good journey."

From The Abbot by Scott, Walter, Sir

"The two yaller pullets have slipped you; the abigail mizzled to the funeral with your niece, and t'other dell must have smelt us, and hopped the twig."

From The Entailed Hat Or, Patty Cannon's Times by Townsend, George Alfred

Mungo sighed and said no more then, but went to Annapla and sought relief for his feelings in bilingual wrangling with that dark abigail.

From Doom Castle by Munro, Neil