ayah
noun
ˈī-ə 
ˈä-yə,
-(ˌ)yä
: a nurse or maid native to India
Word History
Etymology
Hindi & Urdu āyā, from Portuguese aia, from Latin avia grandmother
First Known Use
1779, in the meaning defined above
ayah
noun
as in amah
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- amah
- nurse
- nannie
- nanny
- nursemaid
- babysitter
- sitter
- mammy
- nurser
- dry nurse
- bonne
- au pair
- fraulein
- duenna
- governess
- mademoiselle