maître d'

[ mey-ter dee, mey-truh- ]

, plural maî·tre d's.

1. a headwaiter.
2. a steward or butler.
3. the owner or manager of a hotel.

Word History and Origins

Origin of maître d'¹

First recorded in 1815–25; shortening of maître d'hôtel

Example Sentences

“They’re like a private maitre d’ now,” said Nicky Haslam, 84, the English interior designer and social fixture.

From Seattle Times

“A lot of times, you won’t even see the dog” until you seat the owners, said Ally Gallegos, a former maître d’ at an upscale neighborhood restaurant in the West Village.

From New York Times

"I don't really see him as Fred Sirieix the maître d', I don't see him as anything other than my dad."

From BBC

Quan and Chen dominated the competition by finishing on 436.25 and 427.80 respectively with Spendolini-Sirieix, the daughter of French maitre d' and TV personality Fred Sirieix, third with a score of 377.10.

From BBC

A small illustration of the eponymous rat hangs in the restaurant, signed by director Brad Bird, who spent days sketching the dining room, capturing the lamps, cheese trolley and maitre d's outfit.

From BBC

Related Words

• flight attendant
• hostess
• stewardess
• waiter
• waitress