Talk:housekeeper

Male housekeepers?

I assume this word is also used for male housekeepers / househusbands -- as in the article on househusband? The "by herself" makes it sound like only women are called housekeepers. I'm aware some people use "her" generally for any person, but I doubt this is the intention here. Pelzflorian (talk) 16:18, 3 June 2015 (UTC)

• The OED says "A person, traditionally a woman, who is employed to manage the running of a household, typically (in former times) being in charge of the female servants. Also: a person who manages or oversees the domestic tasks in a hotel, institution, etc.; a person who performs the domestic tasks in a household, hotel, institution, etc." (my bolding) SemperBlotto (talk) 16:22, 3 June 2015 (UTC)
  • Thank you for clarifying this. This might belong into the definition or usage notes, but I'm not bold enough to add it. Pelzflorian (talk) 12:52, 5 June 2015 (UTC)

Possible missing sense

Chambers 1908 also has "one who stays much at home" (i.e. a homebody). Equinox ◑ 17:04, 5 July 2019 (UTC)