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