"low-ranking domestic servant who performs menial kitchen tasks," late 15c., perhaps from Middle French escouillon "a swab, cloth," diminutive of escouve "broom, twig," from Latin scopa (plural scopæ) "broom," related to scapus "shaft, stem" (see scape, n.2). Or an alteration of Old French souillon "scullion," by influence of scullery.