In some books I've read, there was a servant position in the 1700s onward called an 'abigail'. I know it's a female maidservant for women of status, however I cannot find a full description or origin of the word.
As far as I've been able to figure out: The position existed in Europe, and it seemed to be a position that only women required. The problem is that now 'Abigail' is a name, so most searches on Wiki and Google give me the names of various people named Abigail and the fun adventures they had.
If anyone can offer help, I would be most appreciative. Having this question rattle around in my head is driving me batty.
