lady's maid
Mistress's dressing assistant
A lady's maid is a personal servant who attends to a wealthy or aristocratic woman's intimate needs: dressing, hairdressing, care of clothing and jewelry, and other aspects of personal appearance.
Unlike a housekeeper or general domestic servant, a lady's maid works exclusively for her mistress and often travels with her.
The position was common in upper-class British and European households from the 18th through early 20th centuries.
Her lady's maid helped her dress for the ball.
Household servant serving guests
- housekeeperDomestic cleaning professional
- butlerChief domestic servant
- footmanUniformed domestic male attendant
- valetPersonal servant or parker
cook · governess · nanny · domestic service · below stairs · upstairs-downstairs · livery
Sauce for salads
- hairdressingStyling and cutting locks
- mendingRestoring damaged items
- sewingCraft with needle and thread
- launderingCleaning fabric items
pressing · laying out clothes · toilette · correspondence · chaperone · packing · unpacking · cosmetics
Of a prim era
- EdwardianOf early twentieth-century Britain
- RegencyProxy rule period
- GeorgianOf four kings' era
- Downton AbbeyBritish period drama series
Abigail · manor house · great house · aristocracy · gentry · nobility · mistress · country estate
Identical throughout
- apronWaist-tied protective garment
- capCovering for top
- mob capRuffled women's house bonnet
- black dressDark formal women's garment
white collar · cuffs · sensible shoes · neat · modest · starched · plain
One who keeps company
- intimateClosely personal or private
- advisorOne who gives guidance
- listenerOne who attends aurally
- loyalFirm in allegiance
discreet · sympathizer · ally · sounding board · gossip · letters · love affairs · family secrets
parlormaid
Household servant serving guests
- housekeeperDomestic cleaning professional
- butlerChief domestic servant
- footmanUniformed domestic male attendant
valet · cook · governess · nanny · domestic service · below stairs · upstairs-downstairs · livery
dressing
Sauce for salads
- hairdressingStyling and cutting locks
- mendingRestoring damaged items
- sewingCraft with needle and thread
laundering · pressing · laying out clothes · toilette · correspondence · chaperone · packing · unpacking · cosmetics · perfume
Victorian
Of a prim era
Downton Abbey · Abigail · manor house · great house · aristocracy · gentry · nobility · mistress · country estate · debutante
uniform
Identical throughout
black dress · white collar · cuffs · sensible shoes · neat · modest · starched · plain
companion
One who keeps company
loyal · discreet · sympathizer · ally · sounding board · gossip · letters · love affairs · family secrets · confessions
- household staffbutler, housekeeper, cook, nanny, servant
- Old Jobsblacksmith, farrier, wheelwright, chandler, apothecary
- period dramaperiod costumes, costume drama, Victorian era, period piece, Edwardian era
- servantsbutler, servant, servants, domestics, valet
- Downton AbbeyMaggie Smith, Carson, Anna, Bates, Thomas
- Downton Abbey eraDownton Abbey, manor house, country estate, drawing room, butler
lady's maidscullery maid
Lowest-ranking female kitchen servant
housekeeper · kitchen maid · cook · footman · groundskeeper
lady's maidlady
Courteous term for woman
mistress · lady of the house · madam · employer · noblewoman
lady's maidvalet
Personal servant or parker
gentleman's gentleman · manservant · batman · butler · body man
lady, maid, maiden, maids, housemaid, maidenly, milkmaid, chambermaid, maidenhood