Editing Majordomo

{{Short description|Head servant}}
{{About|an occupation|the e-mail software|Majordomo (software)|the Teenage Dads album|Majordomo (album)|the brand of chocolate|Mayordomo}}
[[File:Un maitre d&#039;hotel des Deux Magots, Paris 25 November 2009.jpg|thumb|Majordomo at hotel des Deux Magots, Paris, 25 November 2009]]

A '''majordomo''' ({{IPAc-en|US|ˌ|m|eɪ|dʒ|ər|ˈ|d|oʊ|m|oʊ}}) 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.<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|majordomo|access-date=2020-11-10}}</ref> 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.  Also, when translated into English, "mayordomo" means [[butler]].

== Etymology ==
The origin is from {{langnf|la|maior domūs|principal of the house}}, and it was borrowed into English from Spanish {{lang|es|mayordomo}} or Old Italian {{lang|it|maiordomo}}. Also, it is found as French {{lang|fr|majordome}}, modern Italian {{lang|it|maggiordomo}}, Portuguese and [[Galician language|Galician]] {{lang|pt|mordomo}}, and [[Romanian language|Romanian]] and [[Catalan language|Catalan]] as {{lang|ro|majordom}}.

== In television ==
On a few episodes of the TV [[sitcom]] ''[[The Beverly Hillbillies]]'', the Clampetts visit a castle in England and meet the castle's majordomo, Mr. Faversham, but constantly mistake his title for his name (and mistake his name for a greeting).

In the 1994 family film ''[[The Lion King]]'', Zazu, played by Rowan Atkinson, serves as King Mufasa's majordomo. He is charged with upholding order within the Pride Lands, though he is rarely taken seriously due to his diminutive size and fragile temper. When first confronted by hyenas, Shenzi calls Zazu "Mufasa's little stooge" but Zazu corrects her that he is "the king's major-domo."

In the original run of the 1980s TV series ''[[Magnum, P.I.]]'', Jonathan Higgins is sometimes referred to as the majordomo of the estate where he and Magnum live, though he typically referred to himself as the estate caretaker or estate manager.

In the original run of the nighttime drama ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'', the majordomo of the Carrington residence is Joseph Anders, played by Lee Bergere during seasons 1–3. The character dies by a self-inflicted gunshot wound early in season 4.

== See also ==
* [[Butler]]
* [[Castellan]]
* [[Chief operating officer]]
* [[Chief of staff|Chief of Staff]]
* [[Concierge]]
* [[Consigliere]]
* [[Chamberlain (office)|Chamberlain]]
* [[Executive officer]]
* [[Kouropalates]] (curopalate)
* ''[[Maître d'hôtel]]
* [[Mayor of the palace]]
* [[Papal majordomo]]
* [[Seneschal]]
* [[Steward (office)|Steward]]
* [[Underboss]]
* [[Valet]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Wiktionary inline}}

[[Category:Court titles]]
[[Category:Domestic work]]