Maid vs. Spinster — What's the Difference?

A maid, or housemaid or maidservant, is a female domestic worker. In the Victorian era domestic service was the second largest category of employment in England and Wales, after agricultural work.

Spinster is a term referring to an unmarried woman who is older than what is perceived as the prime age range during which women usually marry. It can also indicate that a woman is considered unlikely to ever marry.

A female domestic servant

An unmarried woman, typically an older woman beyond the usual age for marriage.

An unmarried girl or young woman.

Often Offensive A woman, especially an older one, who has not married.

An unmarried girl or woman.

(Archaic) A person, especially a woman, whose occupation is spinning thread.

A woman or girl who is a virgin.

A woman who has never been married, especially one past the typical marrying age according to social traditions.

A housemaid or chambermaid.

One who spins (puts a spin on) a political media story so as to give something a favorable or advantageous appearance; a spin doctor, spin merchant or spinmeister.

A woman servant.

(obsolete) Someone whose occupation was spinning thread.

A girl or an unmarried young woman; maiden.

(obsolete) A woman of evil life and character; so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction.

A female servant or cleaner (short for maidservant).

A spider; an insect (such as a silkworm) which spins thread.

(archaic) A virgin, now female but originally one of either gender.

A woman who spins, or whose occupation is to spin.

An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman; esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden.

A man who spins.

A man who has not had sexual intercourse.

An unmarried or single woman; - used in legal proceedings as a title, or addition to the surname.

A female servant.

A woman of evil life and character; - so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction.

The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray skate (Raia batis), and of the thornback (Raia clavata).

An elderly unmarried woman

A female domestic

Someone who spins (who twists fibers into threads)

An unmarried girl (especially a virgin)