A majordomo is a person who speaks, makes arrangements, or takes charge for another. Typically, this is the highest (major) person of a household (domūs or domicile) staff, a head servant who acts on behalf of the owner of a large or significant residence.
A majordomo may also, more informally, be someone who oversees the day-to-day responsibilities of a business enterprise. Historically, many institutions and governments – monasteries, cathedrals, and cities – as well as noble and royal houses also had the post of majordomo, who usually was in charge of finances.
Additionally, the Hispanos of New Mexico use the related term mayordomo to refer to the manager of an acequia system for a town or valley.
Etymology
The origin is from maior domūs (Latin for 'principal of the house'), and it was borrowed into English from Spanish mayordomo or obsolete Italian maiordomo. Also, it is found as French majordome, modern Italian maggiordomo, Portuguese and Galician mordomo, and Romanian and Catalan as majordom.
See also
