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Milkmaid - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A milkmaid is a woman who milks cows and typically works on a dairy farm. The term is often associated with traditional or historical rural settings.

milkmaid

/ˈmɪlkˌmeɪd/ /ˈmɪlkˌmeɪd/

Definition:

A woman employed to milk cows or work in a dairy.

Synonyms:

dairymaid, cowgirl, dairywoman

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

milkman, farmer (gender-specific)

Common Collocations:

dairy farm, fresh milk, butter churn, milking stool

Derivatives:

milkmaid's yoke, milkmaiding (rare)

Usage Tips:

Use "milkmaid" to refer specifically to women working in dairies; avoid for general farm workers.

Common Phrases:

"the milkmaid’s song, " "pretty as a milkmaid, " "milkmaid’s delight"

Etymology:

From Middle English "milke" (milk) + "mayde" (maid), referring to a female dairy worker.

Examples:

  • 1. The milkmaid carried two pails of fresh milk to the barn.
  • 2. Children loved watching the cheerful milkmaid sing while she worked.
  • 3. The old painting depicted a young milkmaid in a meadow.
  • 4. She wore a traditional bonnet like a 19th-century milkmaid.

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