parlormaid
Drawing room attendant
A parlormaid is a domestic servant responsible for cleaning and maintaining the parlor and other reception rooms, as well as answering the door and serving guests.
The position was common in prosperous Victorian and Edwardian households, ranking between housemaid and lady's maid in the servant hierarchy.
The term is now largely historical: The parlormaid announced that dinner was served.
Domestic cleaning professional
- butlerChief domestic servant
- footmanUniformed domestic male attendant
- valetPersonal servant or parker
- cookHeat food for eating
governess · steward · staff · uniform · apron · cap · livery · service
Landed aristocratic residence
- estateProperty and grounds
- gentryHighborn but not noble
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- societyOrganized communal human existence
drawing room · calling card · afternoon tea · chaperone · debutante · season · ballroom · etiquette
Removing surface grime
- polishingSmoothing by friction
- tidyingMaking spaces orderly
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
- setting tableArranging dishes before eating
Expression of welcome
- receivingAcquiring what's sent
- announcingPublicly stating information
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- attentivenessConcentrated awareness of surroundings
discretion · formality · presentation · service · guests · visitors · callers · reception
housekeeper
Domestic cleaning professional
cook · governess · steward · staff · uniform · apron · cap · livery · service · household
manor
Landed aristocratic residence
- estateProperty and grounds
- gentryHighborn but not noble
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
society · drawing room · calling card · afternoon tea · chaperone · debutante · season · ballroom · etiquette · corset
dusting
Removing surface grime
setting table · silver polishing · flower arranging · tea tray · decanter
greeting
Expression of welcome
- receivingAcquiring what's sent
- announcingPublicly stating information
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
attentiveness · discretion · formality · presentation · service · guests · visitors · callers · reception · welcoming
- femaleswoman, girl, lady, mother, daughter
- servantsbutler, servant, servants, domestics, valet
- domestic servantshousekeeper, domestic, domestic helper, cleaning lady, cleaning woman
parlormaidbutler
Chief domestic servant
lady's maid · housekeeper · valet · scullery maid · kitchen maid
parlormaidlady of the house
Female head of household
master of the house · master · employer · aristocrat · gentleman
parlormaidcook
Heat food for eating
kitchen maid · scullery maid · laundress · charwoman · chambermaid
maid, parlor, parliament, maiden, parlance, barmaid, old maid, housemaid, maidenly