lady attendant; female servant; lady's maid
Refers to a woman who serves a lady of high rank, often in historical or formal contexts. Can also mean a female servant in a household.
She served as the princess's lady's maid.
She served as a lady attendant to the duchess.
The lady's maid prepared the room.
The noble household employed several lady's maids.
女官 refers specifically to a woman serving at the imperial court, whereas 侍女 can serve any lady of rank, not just royalty.
メイド is a modern loanword for a maid in a Western-style household, while 侍女 carries a traditional or historical Japanese nuance.
召使 is a generic term for any servant regardless of gender, while 侍女 specifically means a female attendant to a lady.
Compound of 侍 (じ, 'to serve') and 女 (じょ, 'woman'). The reading じじょ is a regular on'yomi combination.