Noun

(en noun)

The head servant or official in a royal Spanish or Italian household; later, any head servant in a wealthy household in a foreign country; a leading servant or butler.

*{{quote-book, year=1907, author=

, title=The Dust of Conflict , chapter=22 citation , passage=Pancho, the major-domo , came up to say that Colonel Morales was waiting below. Appleby bade him bring out cigars and wine, and rose from his seat when Morales came in.}}

* {{quote-book

, year=2002 , author=Marta VanLandingham , title=Transforming the State: King, Court and Political Culture in the Realms of Aragon (1213-1387) , chapter=7 , isbn=9004127437 , page=164 , passage=In return for ruling over the king's palace, serving as the monarch's alter ego in the domestic sphere, and bearing the burden of accountability, the majordomo was compensated amply.}}

(US, Southwest) A manager of a hacienda, ranch or estate.

* {{quote-book

, year=2006 , author=Gray A. Brechin , title=Imperial San Francisco: Urban Power, Earthly Ruin , chapter=5 , isbn=0520250087 , page=212 , passage=She called upon a Missouri cousin named Edward Hardy Clark, who became the indispensable majordomo of the Hearst estate.}}

Any overseer, organizer, person in command.

* 2009 , The Economic Times , 7 Jun 2009:

The United Nation's climate majordomo -- tasked with herding 192 nations toward a do-or-die deal by year's end -- does not have the power to impose an agreement on how to curb greenhouse gases and cope with its consequences.

Noun

(en noun)

An aristocrat; one of aristocratic blood.

This country house was occupied by nobles in the 16th century.

* 1499 , (John Skelton), The Bowge of Courte :

I lyked no thynge his playe, / For yf I had not quyckely fledde the touche, / He had plucte oute the nobles of my pouche.

* 1644 , (John Milton), Aeropagitica :

And who shall then stick closest to ye, and excite others? not he who takes up armes for cote and conduct, and his four nobles of Danegelt.

* 2011 , Thomas Penn, Winter King , Penguin 2012, p. 93:

There, before the high altar, as the choir's voices soared upwards to the blue, star-flecked ceiling, Henry knelt and made his offering of a ‘noble in gold’, 6s 8d.