Maid

Maid

Noun · /meɪd/

Definition

A female domestic servant; a young woman, especially an unmarried one (archaic or poetic); a maid of honour — a senior bridesmaid; an old maid — an older unmarried woman (dated, now considered offensive).

Origin

From Middle English maide, a shortening of maiden (an unmarried girl or young woman), from Old English mægden. The domestic servant sense developed from the unmarried young woman sense in medieval usage, when domestic service was typically performed by young unmarried women. The word has been in English from the Old English period.