- Primary Subject: Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1
- Key Update: The first four episodes of the new season premiered on Netflix yesterday, introducing a "Cinderella-style" romance between Benedict Bridgerton and the mysterious Sophie Baek.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: January 30, 2026
- Quick Answer: Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 is now streaming on Netflix as of January 29, 2026, with Part 2 scheduled to release on February 26.
Bridgerton has featured some puzzling historical terms that many modern viewers find hard to understand – and the fourth season is no exception.
As a period drama, fans have likely come across words like “rake” or “on the shelf,” which may have even made them pause the show to grab their phones and look up their meanings.
To save them the trouble, here’s a Bridgerton Season 4 glossary of the Regency-era terms you need to know.
Rake
Fans of Bridgerton have heard members of the Bridgerton family, including matriarch Violet (Ruth Gemmell) and Eloise (Claudia Jessie), refer to Benedict (Luke Thompson) as a “rake” throughout Season 4.
In Episode 1, Violet advises her son that he must marry someday and should be a gentleman, “not a rake,” to earn the approval of the father of an eligible lady.
Eloise, too, calls him a “notorious rake” while recalling the events of the masquerade ball. But what does it actually mean?
Historically, a “rake” is short for “rakehell,” which is similar to a “hellraiser.” It refers to a man accustomed to immoral behavior, particularly womanizing.
In simpler terms, a rake is a youthful, reckless man who flaunts his exploits, behaves foolishly, and considers himself irresistible or dangerous to women.
The term “rake” was also used to describe Simon, the Duke of Hastings (Rege-Jean Page), back in Season 1.
On the Shelf
During the masquerade ball in Bridgerton Season 4, Episode 1, Eloise tells Penelope (Nicola Coughan) that her summer vacation in Scotland allowed her to reflect on what she truly wants.
She explains that she no longer feels the need to “antagonize suitors or debutantes,” as she has decided to put herself “on the shelf.”
The phrase “on the shelf” is a common Regency-era term referring to spinsterhood. In simple terms, Eloise has chosen to remove herself from the marriage market or the mart.
By saying she wants to be “on the shelf,” she implies that she has been left unclaimed and is no longer actively sought by any eligible bachelors.
Cross
In Bridgerton Season 4, female lead Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) is far from pleased when Benedict gives her a job at the Bridgerton family’s home. However, after being treated kindly and getting along with her co-workers, she begins to enjoy her work.
During a hallway encounter, Benedict asks Sophie if she now likes her role and if she is still “cross” with him for arranging the job.
In the Regency-era context, “cross” means irritated, annoyed, or angry, describing someone who is ill-humored, testy, or cranky.
Lady-in-Waiting
In Bridgerton Episode 4, Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) proposes making Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) “a lady-in-waiting for the Queen” as a way to leave the ton and return home, but Alice initially refuses.
Lady Danbury, however, insists that being a lady-in-waiting is “an honor, one that most would only ever dare to dream of,” adding that Alice will not be like other ladies-in-waiting – she will “challenge her” and “tell her the truth.”
In the Regency era, a lady-in-waiting was a noblewoman appointed to attend to a queen, princess, or other high-ranking female royal.
Ladies-in-waiting served as personal companions and attendants, assisting with the royal’s needs, representing them in social situations, and offering counsel.
Unlike ordinary servants, they held high social standing, often coming from aristocratic families, and were considered companions rather than mere staff.
Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 is now streaming on Netflix, while Season 2 is set to release on February 26.
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