Plural of amah; multiple maidservants or nursemaids, especially in colonial Asian households.
Plural form of amah, maintaining the Portuguese colonial origin of the term.
Colonial families would talk casually about 'amahs' the same way modern people say 'staff'—but the word itself is a linguistic fossil that preserves the entire power structure of colonialism in a simple plural noun.
Plural of 'amah,' carries the same colonial gender and racial coding. Used to reference groups of female domestic workers in ways that obscured individual identity and agency.
When necessary in historical contexts, specify 'female domestic workers' or 'amahs (domestic workers)' with acknowledgment of the power structures implied.
["domestic workers","caregivers","housekeepers"]
The plural form erased individuality and collectively devalued women's labor under colonial systems. Recognizing amahs as skilled professionals reclaims their dignity and acknowledges their essential contributions.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.