We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Cultural

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Page?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 7,064
Share

A page or pageboy is a young male servant who performs an assortment of odd jobs. Pages are typically young men who are interested in pursuing more advanced careers in the environments they work in. For example, a United States Senate page may have an interest in politics, and he hopes that by serving in the Senate, he can learn through observation. The page tradition is quite ancient, with many societies having some version of a page, and in the modern era, women may serve as pages as well.

The word “page” is derived from the Greek paidion, which means “child.” Early pages were servants who assisted warriors, typically using their experience as pages as a form of training. After a set period working as a page, a young man could be elevated to a position as a warrior in training, and then ultimately he could become a full-fledged warrior. In the medieval era, pages were eligible to become squires, and later to turn into knights, and a complex system of rules governed the duties and privileges of these individuals.

In addition to serving warriors, pages have also traditionally worked in noble houses and in government buildings. In these environments, pages are heavily relied upon to pass messages, and they may also perform other odd tasks, ranging from assisting with dinner service to picking up someone's dry cleaning. In some countries, people may work as pages before pursuing careers in service as butlers and other household staff, using their experience as pages as a form of apprenticeship, to help them determine whether or not service is a good career.

Pages also work in environments like hotels and casinos, where they are used to carry messages to and from the hotel, and within it. Like pages of old, they typically wear official uniforms to make them easy to identify. Pages who work in the hospitality industry often do so for a short period of time, as these jobs don't have a lot of possibilities for advancement. As a courtesy, such pages are often tipped by the recipients of their messages.

The concept of “page” as a carrier of messages lives on in the concept of “paging” someone with a message or a request to show up at a particular location. While such messages are carried by electronic means today, they would once have been delivered by actual pages.

Share
PublicPeople is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a PublicPeople researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.publicpeople.org/what-is-a-page.htm
Copy this link
PublicPeople, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

PublicPeople, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.