Majordomo
A majordomo is a person who speaks, makes arrangements, or takes charge for another. Typically, this is the highest (major) person of a household (domūs or domicile) staff, a head servant who acts on behalf of the owner of a large or significant residence.
A majordomo may also, more informally, be someone who oversees the day-to-day responsibilities of a business enterprise.[1] Historically, many institutions and governments – monasteries, cathedrals, and cities – as well as noble and royal houses also had the post of majordomo, who usually was in charge of finances.
Additionally, the Hispanos of New Mexico use the related term mayordomo to refer to the manager of an acequia system for a town or valley.
Etymology[edit]
The origin is from maior domūs (Latin for 'principal of the house'), and it was borrowed into English from Spanish mayordomo or obsolete Italian maiordomo. Also, it is found as French majordome, modern Italian maggiordomo, Portuguese and Galician mordomo, and Romanian and Catalan as majordom.
In Television[edit]
On a few episodes of the TV sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, the Clampetts visit a castle in England and meet the castle's majordomo, Mr. Faversham, but constantly mistake his title for his name, and mistake his name for a greeting.
In the original run of the 1980's TV series Magnum, P.I., Jonathan Higgins is sometimes referred to as the majordomo of the estate where he and Magnum live, though he typically referred to himself as the estate caretaker or estate manager.
See also[edit]
- Butler
- Castellan
- Chief operating officer
- Chief of Staff
- Concierge
- Consigliere
- Chamberlain
- Executive officer
- Kouropalates (curopalate)
- Maître d'hôtel
- Mayor of the palace
- Papal majordomo
- Seneschal
- Steward
- Underboss
- Valet
References[edit]
- ^ "majordomo". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
External links[edit]
The dictionary definition of majordomo at Wiktionary
