amah

[ ah-muh, am-uh ]

noun

1. a baby's nurse, especially a wet nurse.
2. a female servant; maid.

amah

/ ˈɑːmə; ˈæmə /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of amah¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of amah¹

C19: from Portuguese ama nurse, wet nurse

Example Sentences

The building is known to have housed hundreds of destitute ayahs and amahs - as Indian and Chinese nannies were called respectively.

From BBC

I asked my amah, who always managed to appear next to my bed the instant I was awake.

From Literature

He learnt the language from his amah, or Chinese nurse.

From Project Gutenberg

Then she fell into a sort of stupor, but moaned and swore at the man in her sleep, and wailed for her amah to come and dress her shoulder.

From Project Gutenberg

Women take their children and their amahs everywhere in China—I mean wherever they go and provided they want to; it is the custom.

From Project Gutenberg