maître d'hôtel

[ mey-ter doh-tel, mey-truh; French me-truh doh-tel ]

noun

, plural maî·tres d'hô·tel [mey-terz doh-, tel, mey-tr, uh, z, me-t, r, uh, doh-, tel].

1. a headwaiter.
2. a steward or butler.
3. the owner or manager of a hotel.
4. Cooking. a sauce of melted butter, minced parsley, and lemon juice or vinegar.

maître d'hôtel

/ ˌmɛtrə dəʊˈtɛl; mɛtrə dotɛl /

noun

1. a head waiter or steward
2. the manager or owner of a hotel

Word History and Origins

Origin of maître d'hôtel¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from French: “master of (the) house”

Word History and Origins

Origin of maître d'hôtel¹

C16: from French: master of (the) hotel

Example Sentences

"We've been waiting for this day for several months. The pleasure is as much ours as it is our diners," said the maitre d'hotel Tony Gonsard.

From Reuters

There was no one in the restaurant but the maitre d'hotel and a waiter and a girl behind a desk.

From Literature

I just finished eating a steak cooked this way, paired with the "Mock Frites" and maitre d'hotel butter from another Times article, and it made a mighty fine meal.

From New York Times

We were not properly attired, but the maitre d'hotel found us jackets to wear.

From New York Times

On the advice of her cousin the Duke of Guis, the letter shows the queen signed captaincy over to his maitre d'hotel, Jacques de la Montaigne.

From BBC