métiern.
/ˈmeɪtɪeɪ/, /ˈmɛtɪeɪ/, U.S. /meɪˈtjeɪ/, /mɛˈtjeɪ/, /ˈmeɪˌtjeɪ/, /ˈmɛˌtjeɪ/ Originally: an occupation, a profession. Subsequently usually in extended use: a field or department of activity in which a person has special skill or ability; one's forte.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > [noun] > regular occupation, trade, or profession > line of business or work
line1638
way1642
lay1707
walk1715
slang1789
métier1792
Fach1838
lark1934
line of work1957
1792 C. Smith Desmond I. xiii. 253 They wanted, indeed, to make me a monk; but I had a mortal aversion to that métier.
1842 R. H. Barham Auto-da-fé in Ingoldsby Legends 2nd Ser. 74 Heretic-burning—in fact, 'tis his métier.
1895 I. Zangwill Master ii. vii. 211 Black-and-white was no more his métier than humour.
1941 W. A. Percy Lanterns on Levee xii. 127 Power? I knew nothing about it and it certainly wasn't my métier.
1950 T. S. Eliot Cocktail Party iii. 157 You understand your metier, Mr. Quilpe—Which is the most that any of us can ask for.
1975 Times 18 Sept. 36/2 The parallels started to extend from the man to the métier.
1987 Sunday Express Mag. 10 May 53/1 Ms Scott has found, if not her métier, then a field she clearly enjoys.
1993 Rolling Stone 14 Oct. 69/3 Filmmaker Jim Blashfield's metier is an extremely painstaking one.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1792