ancilla, ae, f. dim. ancula, a maidservant, handmaid, female slave (com. used as fem. of servus, instead of serva). Lit., Liv. Andron. ap. Non. p. 153 (Trag. Rel. p. 3 Rib.): Am. Quis me tenet? Br. Tua Bromia ancilla, Plaut. Am. 5, 1, 25: ecqua ancilla est illi? id. Mil. 3, 1, 199: Servos, ancillas amove, atque audin? id. Trin. 3, 3, 70 et saep.: ancilla aere empta, Ter. Phorm. 3, 2, 26; so id. And. 3, 1, 3; 5, 1, 19; id. Heaut. 1, 1, 78; 5, 1, 20 et saep.: ancillarum beneficio emitti, Cic. Har. Resp. 42: ducebat ancillarum greges, id. Mil. 55: hunc servi ancillaeque amant, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 4: cum ancillarum puerorumque comitatu, id. Mil. 10 al.: occultat se in tugurio mulieris ancillae, Sall. J. 12, 5; Hor. C. 2, 4, 1; id. S. 1, 2, 63; 1, 2, 117; 2, 3, 215; id. Ep. 1, 18, 72: nec (liberi) ancillis aut nutricibus delegantur, Tac. G. 20; id. Or. 29: ancilla dominā validior, id. A. 14, 63.

— Trop.: terrā usus mortalium semper ancillā, Plin. 2, 63, 63, § 155.

—As a term of reproach, of one servilely devoted to any thing: Fufidius ancilla turpis, Sall. H. 1, 15, p. 218 Gerl.