Abigail

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈa.bɪ.É¡eɪl/
• US IPA: /ˈa.bɪ.É¡eɪl/

Origin

From the name Abigail, as given to a waiting-maid in Beaumont and Fletcher's play The Scornful Lady.

Full definition of abigail

Noun

1. (obsolete) A lady’s waiting maid. Mid 17^th century.

• 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, page 415:It was therefore concluded that the Abigails should, by turns, relieve each other on one of his lordship’s horses, which was presently equipped with a side-saddle for that purpose.
• 1847, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre:In the servants’ hall two coachmen and three gentlemen’s gentlemen stood or sat round the fire; the abigails, I suppose, were upstairs with their mistresses; the new servants, that had been hired from Millcote, were bustling about everywhere.