1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Menial

MENIAL, that which belongs to household or domestic service, hence, particularly, a domestic servant. The idea of such service being derogatory has made the term one of contempt. The word is derived from an obsolete meinie or meyney, the company of household servants or retainers; a Scottish form is menzie. The origin is to be found in the O.Fr. mesnie, popular Lat. mansionata, from mansio, mansion, from which comes Fr. maison, house.