parlormaid

[ pahr-ler-meyd ]

noun

1. a maid who takes care of a parlor, answers the door, waits on guests, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of parlormaid¹

First recorded in 1830–40; parlor + maid

Example Sentences

His mother, Joan Elisa Davis, was the daughter of a prosperous stockbroker, and the family lived a comfortable life, he said, “complete with nanny, cook and parlormaid.”

From New York Times

My great-grandparents’ household was like an ethnic joke: a German cook, an Irish parlormaid, a French governess, and a local butler.

From The New Yorker

Finally, he married the parlormaid, and settled here in this town as a joiner.

From Project Gutenberg

They had all gone to the Opera, the parlormaid told him.

From Project Gutenberg

Somehow she could not picture her in a parlormaid's cap and apron.

From Project Gutenberg