Seneschal
/ˈsɛn.ɪ.ʃəl/noun
A senior official in charge of domestic arrangements or administration in a noble household or court.
Did you know?The word’s journey runs through Frankish and Old French court life, where a household officer could become one of the most powerful people in the castle.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sen-
“old”
Latin
Latin
senex
“old man, elder”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sina-
“old”
Frankish
Germanic
*siniskalk
“old servant, senior servant”
Old French
OF
seneschal
“steward, household official”
Middle English
English
seneschal
“a high-ranking household or court steward”