housemaid
Cleans for others
A housemaid is a female domestic servant employed to clean and maintain a household.
The term belongs to an era when large houses had specialized staff—housemaids handled general cleaning while parlor maids, kitchen maids, and lady's maids had other duties.
Now largely historical or used in period contexts: The housemaid brought fresh linens to the guest room.
Of a prim era
- EdwardianOf early twentieth-century Britain
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
- estateProperty and grounds
- downstairsOn a lower floor
upstairs · parlor · scullery · livery · servitude · Downton · bells · mistress
One employed to serve
- attendantOne who assists others
- butlerChief domestic servant
- valetPersonal servant or parker
- footmanUniformed domestic male attendant
handmaid · chambermaid · parlormaid · governess · nanny · cook · domestic · helper
Removing surface grime
- moppingCleaning floors with water
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
- scrubbingCleaning by rubbing hard
- polishingSmoothing by friction
tidying · vacuuming · washing · ironing · laundry · wiping · sanitizing · disinfecting
Waist-tied protective garment
- capCovering for top
- dressSkirted one-piece garment
- black-and-whiteWithout color gradations
- starchedMade stiff with sizing
mob cap · pinafore · cuffs · collar · neat · pressed · tidy · attire
Showing humble submission
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- respectfulShowing proper regard
- dutifulMotivated by obligation
- obedientFollowing commands willingly
efficient · hardworking · unobtrusive · invisible · quiet · punctual · reliable · trustworthy
Victorian
Of a prim era
- EdwardianOf early twentieth-century Britain
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
- estateProperty and grounds
downstairs · upstairs · parlor · scullery · livery · servitude · Downton · bells · mistress · master
servant
One employed to serve
footman · handmaid · chambermaid · parlormaid · governess · nanny · cook · domestic · helper · staff
dusting
Removing surface grime
- moppingCleaning floors with water
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
- scrubbingCleaning by rubbing hard
polishing · tidying · vacuuming · washing · ironing · laundry · wiping · sanitizing · disinfecting · bleach
apron
Waist-tied protective garment
- capCovering for top
- dressSkirted one-piece garment
- black-and-whiteWithout color gradations
starched · mob cap · pinafore · cuffs · collar · neat · pressed · tidy · attire · outfit
deferential
Showing humble submission
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- respectfulShowing proper regard
- dutifulMotivated by obligation
obedient · efficient · hardworking · unobtrusive · invisible · quiet · punctual · reliable · trustworthy · professional
- femaleswoman, girl, lady, mother, daughter
- household helpnanny, babysitter, cleaner, au pair, governess
- household staffbutler, cook, nanny, servant, chambermaid
- servantsbutler, servant, servants, domestics, valet
- domestic servantschambermaid, parlormaid, domestic, domestic helper, cleaning lady
- servant quartersservants, servant, domestic staff, below stairs, downstairs
housemaidbutler
Chief domestic servant
head housekeeper · head butler · majordomo · estate manager · housekeeper
housemaidlady of the house
Female head of household
master of the house · employer · homeowner · madam · lord of the manor