a person, especially a man, who waits on tables, as in a restaurant.
a tray for carrying dishes, a tea service, etc.; salver.
a person who waits or awaits.
Obsolete. an attendant.
verb (used without object)
to work or serve as a waiter: to waiter in a restaurant.
Origin of waiter
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at wait, -er1
usage note for waiter
See -person.
OTHER WORDS FROM waiter
wait·er·less,adjective
Words nearby waiter
Waitangi Day, Waitangi Tribunal, wait at table, wait-a-while, Waite, waiter, waitering, wait for the other shoe to drop, waiting, Waiting for Godot, waiting game
“If you are a waiter, you can make twice as much in Austin relative to Flint,” remarked Moretti.
The Rustbelt Roars Back From the Dead|Joel Kotkin, Richey Piiparinen|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A waiter brings out some fresh pretzels and homemade pork and wine sausages.
House of the Witch: The Renegade Craft Brewers of Panama|Jeff Campagna|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The quartet is presented with a pitcher of syrup, which the waiter advises we apply “temperately, but not timidly.”
The Hunt for New Orleans’s Secret Dish|Jane & Michael Stern|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As he was about to offer some to Abu Hassar, our waiter came over.
The Fourth War: My Lunch with a Jihadi|Elliot Ackerman|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before we could begin our conversation again, the waiter brought out a large silver tray with our lunch.
The Fourth War: My Lunch with a Jihadi|Elliot Ackerman|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When the waiter returned to the hotel with the police the officer had vanished; and you were there with your own passport.
Annajanska, the Bolshevik Empress|George Bernard Shaw
When the waiter had withdrawn, he and Cynthia looked at each other aghast.
Cynthia|Leonard Merrick
I rang for the waiter, and asked him to go and tell the gentleman this.
Alas!|Rhoda Broughton
The waiter disappeared, and presently returned with a small decanter and two minute wine-glasses.
Dikes and Ditches|Oliver Optic
The waiter looked grateful and after a polite Thank you, Miss, left the room solemnly shaking his head.
Polly's First Year at Boarding School|Dorothy Whitehill
British Dictionary definitions for waiter
waiter
/ (ˈweɪtə) /
noun
a man whose occupation is to serve at table, as in a restaurant
an attendant at the London Stock Exchange or Lloyd's who carries messages: the modern equivalent of waiters who performed these duties in the 17th-century London coffee houses in which these institutions originated
a person who waits
a tray or salver on which dishes, etc, are carried