Word Study
ayah
CIDE DICTIONARY
ayah, n. [Pg. aia, akin to Sp. aya a governess, ayo a tutor.].
A native nurse for children; also, a lady's maid. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
ayah, n. a native nurse or maidservant, esp. in India and other former British territories abroad.
Etymology
Anglo-Ind. f. Port. aia nurse
ROGET THESAURUS
ayah
Servant
N servant, subject, liegeman, servant, retainer, follower, henchman, servitor, domestic, menial, help, lady help, employe, attache, official, retinue, suite, cortege, staff, court, attendant, squire, usher, page, donzel, footboy, train bearer, cup bearer, waiter, lapster, butler, livery servant, lackey, footman, flunky, flunkey, valet, valet de chambre, equerry, groom, jockey, hostler, ostler, tiger, orderly, messenger, cad, gillie, herdsman, swineherd, barkeeper, bartender, bell boy, boots, boy, counterjumper, khansamah, khansaman, khitmutgar, yardman, bailiff, castellan, seneschal, chamberlain, major-domo, groom of the chambers, secretary, under secretary, assistant secretary, clerk, subsidiary, agent, subaltern, underling, understrapper, man, maid, maidservant, handmaid, confidente, lady's maid, abigail, soubrette, amah, biddy, nurse, bonne, ayah, nursemaid, nursery maid, house maid, parlor maid, waiting maid, chamber maid, kitchen maid, scullery maid, femme de chambre, femme fille, camarista, chef de cuisine, cordon bleu, cook, scullion, Cinderella, potwalloper, maid of all work, servant of all work, laundress, bedmaker, journeyman, charwoman, bearer, chokra, gyp (Cambridge), hamal, scout (Oxford), serf, vassal, slave, negro, helot, bondsman, bondswoman, bondslave, ame damnee, odalisque, ryot, adscriptus gleboe, villian, villein, beadsman, bedesman, sizar, pensioner, pensionary, client, dependant, dependent, hanger on, satellite, parasite, led captain, protege, ward, hireling, mercenary, puppet, tool, creature, badge of slavery, bonds, in the train of, in one's pay, in one's employ, at one's call, in bonds.Keeper
N keeper, custodian, custos, ranger, warder, jailer, gaoler, turnkey, castellan, guard, watchdog, watchman, Charley, chokidar, durwan, hayward, sentry, sentinel, watch and ward, concierge, coast guard, guarda costa, game keeper, escort, bodyguard, protector, governor, duenna, guardian, governess, nurse, nanny, babysitter, catsitter, dogsitter, bonne, ayah.For further exploring for "ayah" in Webster Dictionary Online