house-parlourmaid

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   historical British: a female domestic servant who combined the cleaning duties of a housemaid with the table service and reception duties of a parlourmaid

   The house-parlourmaid answered the front door before returning to lay the dining table.

A British occupational compound of housemaid + parlourmaid. A house-parlourmaid served in a household too small to employ separate servants for cleaning rooms and for waiting at table, answering the door, and attending guests.

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