A male domestic worker or personal attendant, typically employed in a wealthy household. A man whose job is to serve and assist his employer with daily tasks and household duties.
From Middle English, compound of 'man' + 'servant' (from Old French 'servant'). The term distinguished male household workers from maidservants, reflecting the gendered division of domestic labor in aristocratic households.
The manservant represents a fascinating class paradox - often educated and skilled, yet socially invisible, these men lived intimately with wealth and power while remaining forever outside it. Literature from Jeeves to Downton Abbey explores this unique position of trusted insider who must remain perpetually peripheral.
Compound of 'man' + 'servant,' gendered nomenclature paralleling 'maidservant.' This linguistic distinction historically reflected rigid occupational gender segregation in domestic service hierarchies.
Use 'servant' or 'domestic staff' when gender is irrelevant. When describing historical context, acknowledge 'manservant' as an archival term reflecting period hierarchies.
["servant","domestic staff","household staff"]
Women in domestic service, often maidservants, performed equally skilled labor but received lower wages and were more vulnerable to exploitation—a disparity encoded in language itself.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.