See Also: waiter(dictionary)
waiter(dictionary)
Waiter - Poker(gambling)
shad-waiter(medicine)
waiter's cramp(medicine)
dumb waiter(dictionary)

waiter (iou)



waiter noun. LME.
[from WAIT verb + -ER1.]
I.
a. A person watching or observing closely; rare a person lying in wait, a spy, a scout. LME-L17.
b. A customs officer. Cf. tidewaiter s.v. TIDE noun. obsolete exc. Hist. L15.
c. A warder at the Tower of London. More fully yeoman waiter. M16.
d. A watchman at the city gates. Scot. obsolete exc. Hist. L17.
a. A usu. high-ranking member of a royal or noble person's household. LME-L17.
b. A bridesmaid. obsolete exc. US dial. or Hist. M16.
A (usu. male) household servant, as a groom or footman. L15-L18.
b. Military. A soldier employed as a domestic servant to an officer. US. E-M19.
A man employed to serve at table in a hotel, restaurant, large house, etc. E16.
a. A person visiting or paying court to another of superior rank; an attendant. M16-E17.
b. A uniformed attendant at the Stock Exchange, Lloyd's of London, or other City of London institutions. L19.
II.
A person who waits for an event, opportunity, time, etc. M17.
b. Chess. = waiting problem s.v. WAITING verbal noun. E20.
a. A salver, a small tray. M18.
b. = dumb waiter s.v. DUMB adjective & noun. L18-M19.
waitering noun the occupation of a waiter M19.
waiterlike adjective resembling (that of) a waiter E19.