/an sil"euh/ , n. , pl. ancillas .
1. an accessory; auxiliary or adjunct.
2. Archaic. a maidservant.
[ 1870-75; anc- + -illa dim. suffix, by reanalysis of ancula maid anquola, equiv. to an- (see ANCILE) + * -quola, n. deriv. of a v. base * quel- turn about, hence "one who circles around"; c. Gk amphípolos attendant ]