belowstairs
Where staff works
Belowstairs refers to the servants' quarters in a large house, traditionally located in the basement or lower floors.
The word distinguishes the working areas where domestic staff lived and labored from the main living spaces occupied by the family.
As an adverb, it means in or to those lower regions: The cook ruled belowstairs.
The term evokes the rigid class divisions of Victorian and Edwardian households.
Of the home
- butlerChief domestic servant
- maidHousehold cleaning worker
- housekeeperDomestic cleaning professional
- footmanUniformed domestic male attendant
cook · scullery · valet · lady's maid · parlormaid · chambermaid · kitchen staff · livery
Subterranean building level
- kitchenFood preparation room
- sculleryRoom for dishwashing
- pantryHousehold provisions closet
- larderCool food storage room
cellar · laundry room · boot room · coal cellar · wine cellar · stillroom · back of house · utility rooms
Gap between economic strata
- master-servantDominance-submission arrangement
- social stationPosition in society's hierarchy
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- liveryIdentifying uniform or colors
uniform · service · Edwardian era · aristocracy · gentry · working class · orders · hierarchy
domestic
Of the home
- butlerChief domestic servant
- maidHousehold cleaning worker
- housekeeperDomestic cleaning professional
footman · cook · scullery · valet · lady's maid · parlormaid · chambermaid · kitchen staff · livery · service
basement
Subterranean building level
larder · cellar · laundry room · boot room · coal cellar · wine cellar · stillroom · back of house · utility rooms · workrooms
class divide
Gap between economic strata
- master-servantDominance-submission arrangement
- social stationPosition in society's hierarchy
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
livery · uniform · service · Edwardian era · aristocracy · gentry · working class · orders · hierarchy · station
belowstairsupstairs
On a higher level
abovestairs · masters · gentry · upper class · aristocracy
belowstairsupstairs
On a higher level
abovestairs · upper floors · main floor · top floor · ground floor