-pə(r) noun
Etymology: Middle English howskepare, from hows, hous house + kepare, keper keeper — more at keeper
1. archaic : householder
2. obsolete : one who exercises hospitality
3.
a. : a woman who is employed on a permanent basis to do the work in a private home either supervised by or taking the place of a housewife
she came as a general domestic but we gave her the status of housekeeper — Margo Fischer
b. : a woman who is employed in a hotel or an institution to supervise the cleaning personnel
4. : one in charge of a house : caretaker , janitor