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waiter

Pronunciation: /ˈweɪ̯təː/

The English word “waiter” has 7 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A male or female attendant who serves customers at their tables in a restaurant, café or similar.
  2. Someone who waits for somebody or something; a person who is waiting.
  3. A person working as an attendant at the London Stock Exchange.
  4. A vessel or tray on which something is carried, as dishes, etc.; a salver. (See etymology of dumbwaiter.)
  5. A custom house officer; a tide waiter.
  6. A watchman.

verb

  1. To work as a waiter.

Etymology

From late 14th century Middle English waiter, wayter (“attendant, watchman”). By surface analysis, wait + -er. Sense of "servant who waits at tables" is from late 15th century, originally in reference to household servants; in reference to inns, eating houses, etc., it is attested from 1660s. Feminine form waitress first recorded 1834. The London Stock Exchange sense harks back to the early days…

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