handwomann.
/ˈhandwʊmən/, U.S. /ˈhæn(d)ˌwʊmən/ 1. A female (personal) servant; a handmaid. Also in extended use. Chiefly historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > female
thuftena1100
handmaidc1300
damselc1330
maid womanc1330
handmaidenc1350
handwomana1382
foot maid?a1475
foot maidenc1480
waiting-woman1565
waitressc1595
waiter1639
attendressa1661
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Wisd. ix. 5 I am thi seruaunt, and the sone of thin hand woman [L. ancillae].
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 2593 Sco had hir wit a hand womman, þat agar hight.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10906 I am mi lauerd hand-wimman.
1649 Z. Bogan in F. Rous & Z. Bogan Archæologiæ Atticæ (ed. 3) v. i. 205 From the office of a Hand-woman, and her handynesse or dexterity, & willingnesse to performe it, she was worshipped by the Romans under the name of Egeria.
1833 R. Ford Let. 6 Mar. (1905) 111 It is a favour to be bestowed on her, and for which she will ever remain your handmaid or handwoman.
1861 Notes & Queries 6 Apr. 263/1 Ladies at that period wore them [sc. chopines] so very high, that they were unable to walk..without leaning on the shoulders of their pages or handwomen.
1901 Cent. Mag. Jan. 33/1 Our second steed must carry gear of mademoiselle's and her handwoman.
2008 L. Downer Last Concubine ii. 59 The aristocratic ladies who had accompanied Princess Kazu from the capital had nothing but contempt for the Retired One and her handwomen.
2. A midwife. Now historical and rare.
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the world > health and disease > healing > healer > one skilled in obstetrics or midwifery > [noun]
midwifec1300
childwifea1387
midwomana1400
Lucinac1405
matron?a1425
grace-wifec1600
Mother Midnight1602
headswoman1615
handwoman1637
sage woman1672
howdie1725
accoucheur1727
granny1738
obstetrix1773
accoucheuse1795
dukun1817
fingersmith1819
wise woman1821
obstetrician1826
obstetrist1873
tocologist1902
birth attendant1910
S.C.M.1935
monitrice1969
1637 F. Rous Archæologia Atticæ iv. i. 206 She stood still ready as it were at the doore, and was alwaies at hand to doe the work of a hand-woman.
1739 in H. H. Metcalf & O. G. Hammond Probate Rec. New Hampsh. (1914) II. 758 A Midwife or hand woman.
1846 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words I Hand-woman, a midwife. Devon.
2000 R. E. Olver in D. F. Haddad et al. Core Paediatrics & Child Health i. 6 The phasing out of the unqualified handwoman by the Midwives Act of 1902.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.a1382