In the hierarchy of a great house, the kitchen maid ranked below a cook and above a scullery maid. An experienced kitchen maid is an assistant cook; the position may be compared to that of a chef de partie in a professional kitchen.

An early meaning of "slut" was "kitchen maid or drudge" (c. 1450), a meaning retained as late as the 18th century.^[1]

In the 19th century a colloquial version was "kitching-maid".

• Margaret Powell worked as a kitchen girl at the age of 15.^{[citation needed]}