† ancillen.
Obs.
A maid-servant or handmaid.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > [noun] > woman or girl
maidenOE
schelchenec1000
womanOE
maidc1300
ancillec1366
wench1380
child-womana1382
maidservanta1382
serving-womana1398
servantessa1425
servant maid?a1450
woman servant1450
servitrice1477
administress1483
ministressa1500
serving maid?1529
maiden-servant1533
servitrix1566
miskin-fro1585
servant girl1658
girl1668
necessary womanc1689
scout1708
servitress1827
ancilla1871
c1366 Chaucer A.B.C. O, Ffrom his ancille [v.r. ancelle, ancile] he made þe maistresse Of heuene & eerþe.
c1430 Lydgate Minor Poems 37 Do trewe service, as ancille..Unto hir lord.
1474 Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iv. iii. 171 In the olde lawe, the faders hadd dyuerce wyues and Ancellys.
1483 Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 151/1 She callid herself ancylle or handmayde and not lady.
c1500 Partenay 6456 Glorius virgin, Mayden, moder off god, Doughter and Ancelle.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1884; most recently modified version published online November 2010).
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n.c1366