help

{{11}}help (n.) O.E. help (m.), helpe (f.) "assistance, succor;" see HELP (Cf. help) (v.). Most Germanic languages also have the noun form, Cf. O.N. hjalp, Swed. hjälp, O.Fris. helpe, Du. hulp, O.H.G. helfa, Ger. Hilfe. Use of help as euphemism for "servant" is Amer.Eng., 1640s, tied up in notions of class and race.

A domestic servant of American birth, and without negro blood in his or her veins ... is not a servant, but a 'help.' 'Help wanted,' is the common heading of advertisements in the North, when servants are required. [Chas. Mackay, "Life and Liberty in America," 1859].

Though help also meant "assistant, helper, supporter" in Middle English (c.1200).

{{12}}help (v.) O.E. helpan (class III strong verb; past tense healp, pp. holpen) "help, support, succor; benefit, do good to; cure, amend," from P.Gmc. *helpan (Cf. O.N. hjalpa, O.Fris. helpa, M.Du., Du. helpen, O.H.G. helfan, Ger. helfen), from PIE root *kelb- "to help" (Cf. Lith. selpiu "to support, help"). Recorded as a cry of distress from late 14c. Sense of "serve someone with food at table" (1680s) is translated from Fr. servir "to help, stead, avail," and led to HELPING (Cf. helping) "portion of food." Related: Helped (c.1300). The M.E. pp. holpen survives in biblical and U.S. dialectal use.