below stairs
The term "below stairs" is rooted in historical British English, describing the lower floors of a house where servants worked and lived.
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Definition
C1Historical Housing
(historical, British English)The lower levels of a large house where domestic staff worked and lived.
Example
- In the Victorian era, the kitchen and laundry rooms were typically located below stairs.
- The butler's pantry was often found below stairs, away from the family's living quarters.
C1Social Hierarchy
(historical, British English)Pertaining to the areas or people associated with domestic service in a household.
Example
- The staff below stairs were responsible for maintaining the household's daily operations.
- Life below stairs was a world of its own, separate from the family's activities above.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "below stairs":
above stairsgo upstairsupper storeyfirst floorbetween deckslower deckdown belowunder the tableunder hatchesground floorunder the counter