GROOM, in modern usage a male servant attached to the stables, whose duties are to attend to the cleaning, feeding, curry ing, and care generally of horses. The earliest meaning of the word appears to be that of a boy, and in 16th and 17th century literature it frequently occurs, in pastorals, for a shepherd lover.
Later it is used for any male attendant, and thus survives in the name for several officials in the royal household, such as the grooms-in-waiting, and the grooms of the great chamber. The groom-porter, whose office was abolished by George III., saw to the preparation of the sovereign's apartment, and, during the i6th and i7th centuries, provided cards and dice for playing. To him were submitted all questions of gaming within the court.