1521, from M.Fr. domestique, from L. domesticus "belonging to the household," from domus "house," from PIE *domo-/*domu- "house, household" (cf. Skt. damah "house;" Avestan demana- "house;" Gk. domos "house," despotes "master, lord;" L. dominus "master of a household;" O.C.S. domu, Rus. dom "house;" Lith. dimstis "enclosed court, property;" O.E. timber "building, structure"), from *dem-/*dom- "build." The usual IE word for "house" (It., Sp. casa are from L. casa "cottage, hut;" Gmc. *hus is of obscure origin). The noun is 1539; domesticate is from 1639. Domestics, originally "articles of home manufacture," is attested from 1622.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation; "domestic issues such as tax rate and highway construction" [ant: foreign]
2.
of or relating to the home; "domestic servant"; "domestic science"
3.
of or involving the home or family; "domestic worries"; "domestic happiness"; "they share the domestic chores"; "everything sounded very peaceful and domestic"; "an author of blood-and-thunder novels yet quite domestic in his taste" [ant: undomestic]
4.
converted or adapted to domestic use; "domestic animals"; "domesticated plants like maize"
5.
produced in a particular country; "domestic wine"; "domestic oil"
noun
1.
a servant who is paid to perform menial tasks around the household
Do*mes"tic\, a. [L. domesticus, fr. domus use: cf. F. domestique. See 1st Dome.]1. Of or pertaining to one's house or home, or one's household or family; relating to home life; as, domestic concerns, life, duties, cares, happiness, worship, servants. His fortitude is the more extraordinary, because his domestic feelings were unusually strong. --Macaulay. 4. Of or pertaining to a nation considered as a family or home, or to one's own country; intestine; not foreign; as, foreign wars and domestic dissensions. --Shak. 3. Remaining much at home; devoted to home duties or pleasures; as, a domestic man or woman. 4. Living in or near the habitations of man; domesticated; tame as distinguished from wild; as, domestic animals. 5. Made in one's own house, nation, or country; as, domestic manufactures, wines, etc.
Do*mes"tic\, n. 1. One who lives in the family of an other, as hired household assistant; a house servant. The master labors and leads an anxious life, to secure plenty and ease to the domestic. --V. Knox. 2. pl. (Com.) Articles of home manufacture, especially cotton goods. [U. S.]