below stairs

below stairs — adv. Chiefly Brit. 1. DOWNSTAIRS (adv. 2) 2. in the servants area in the basement of a wealthy household: Also belowstairs below stairs adj …   English World dictionary

below stairs — ► below stairs Brit. dated in the basement of a house (occupied by servants). Main Entry: ↑below …   English terms dictionary

below stairs — also below stairs ADV: n ADV, ADV after v People sometimes use below stairs to refer to the servants in a rich household and the things that are connected with them. Life below stairs at Buckingham Palace is to be turned into a TV drama. ADJ: usu …   English dictionary

Below stairs — Stair Stair (st[^a]r), n. [OE. steir, steyer, AS. st[=ae]ger, from st[imac]gan to ascend, rise. [root]164. See {Sty} to ascend.] 1. One step of a series for ascending or descending to a different level; commonly applied to those within a building …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

below stairs —    1. British    employed as a domestic servant    The construction of town houses afforded day accommodation for the servants in cellars or semi basements and sleeping space in the attics, communication taking place through the back stairs of… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

below stairs — Chiefly Brit. (formerly) the basement rooms usually used by servants, as servants quarters, kitchen, and laundry room. * * * below stairs 1. In the basement 2. Among the servants • • • Main Entry: ↑stair * * * below ˈstairs idiom ( …   Useful english dictionary

below-stairs — see below stairs …   English dictionary

below stairs — Chiefly Brit. (formerly) the basement rooms usually used by servants, as servants quarters, kitchen, and laundry room. * * * …   Universalium

below stairs — /bəloʊ ˈstɛəz/ (say buhloh stairz) noun Chiefly British (formerly) the basement of a large house where the servants prepare meals, etc …   Australian English dictionary

below stairs Brit. — below stairs Brit. dated in the basement of a house as occupied by servants. → below …   English new terms dictionary

A Countess Below Stairs — Infobox Book name = A Countess Below Stairs title orig = translator = image caption = author = Eva Ibbotson illustrator = cover artist = country = language = English series = subject = genre = publisher = HarperCollins pub date = 1982 english pub …   Wikipedia