maid of all work

noun5

1. •
   A female servant employed to do general housework.

   • […] it is difficult to define with clearness the exact duties of the maid-of-all-work. She understands that she is to do cooking, waiting, and chamber-work, and probably washing and ironing. — 1904
2. •
   A general-purpose housemaid.

   • The average woman who is able to afford hired service at all has one maid of all work. If the family is large, it is necessary that part of the housework be done by the members of it. — 1899
3. •
   Alternative form of maid-of-all-work
4. •
   (humorous) Any person who does a wide range of jobs in a supportive role; a thing that serves a wide range of purposes.

   • The German told us he had been three years in Afghanistan and six months in Mazar, where he acts as maid-of-all-work for bridges, canals, roads, and building in general. — 1937
5. •
   (figurative) Someone or something that serves many purposes.

   • If we may regard auratum as the queen of Lillies, it will be none the less fair to regard Specienum as the maid of all work, and a very pretty maid of all work it will perhaps be said. — 1886