Definition of "famulus" [famulus]

• A private secretary or other close attendant. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "This reminds me -- not unpleasantly -- of the "famulus" social-engineering familiars in Ian McDonald's brilliant novel Out on Blue Six."
• "Clothahump turned from trying to refocus a finger on the jeering famulus and glanced angrily at the otter."
• "It wasn't long before the famulus came speeding back."