stewardess
stewardess Lexical Profile
stewardess Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A woman employed to look after and ensure the safety and comfort of passengers on a commercial aircraft, passenger ship, or train.
"Before the widespread adoption of gender-neutral job titles in the late twentieth century, a female cabin crew member was commonly called a stewardess."
A female official or supervisor appointed to manage the domestic affairs, finances, or property of a large household, club, or institution.
"Historical records indicate that the manor employed a head stewardess to oversee the kitchen staff and household provisions."
Word Nuance & Usage
In contemporary commercial aviation, the gender-neutral term 'flight attendant' or 'cabin crew' is strongly preferred over the dated, gender-specific 'stewardess'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 17th century from 'steward' (from Old English 'stiweard', literally 'hall-keeper') and the feminine suffix '-ess' (from Old French '-esse').