counterman

American  

[koun-ter-man] / ˈkaʊn tərˌmæn /

noun

plural

countermen

1. a person who waits on customers from behind a counter, as in a cafeteria.

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Etymology

Origin of counterman

First recorded in 1850–55; counter ¹ + man

Example Sentences

These days, Iqbal, the head chef, might call Asad, the sous-chef and counterman, late at night with his latest inspiration, like a dish the pair once offered as a special: cheesesteak samosas.

From Washington Post • Jan. 3, 2022

Tucker, the counterman, said: “I did have a little bit more faith in him a year ago compared to what I do now.”

From The Guardian • Jan. 20, 2018

His shift was about to start, and the bus he was scheduled to drive was pulling up as a Domand counterman named Jorge Martinez was making Mr. Fourcell a sandwich.

From New York Times • Sep. 30, 2015

But from your counter seat, you can observe the counterman make egg creams the old-fashioned way, by spritzing rapidly stirred cold milk and syrup with a jet of seltzer from a bottle.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2014

“What can I get you?” the counterman asked as he wiped in front of us with a rag that spread a thin film of grease on the Formica surface.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago