waitress

[ wey-tris ]

noun

1. a woman who waits on tables, as in a restaurant.

verb (used without object)

1. to work or serve as a waitress:

   She waitressed in a restaurant to help pay her way through college.

waitress

/ ˈweɪtrɪs /

noun

1. a woman who serves at table, as in a restaurant

verb

1. intr to act as a waitress

Gender Note

See -ess, -person.

Word History and Origins

Origin of waitress¹

First recorded in 1580–90; wait(e)r + -ess

Example Sentences

She is a waitress, he helps run the family ranch, and something more criminal.

From The Daily Beast

Why, then, does working in one almost guarantee a waitress, hostess, or bartender will be at the receiving end of such harassment?

From The Daily Beast

Over dinner, an elderly waitress at a nearby restaurant thought the timing of the attack was suspicious.

From The Daily Beast

Bowie was born David Jones to a waitress mother and public relations father in Brixton, England, in 1947.

From The Daily Beast

“I remember a lot of advances from my waitress/bartender days,” one woman replied.

From The Daily Beast

Scattergood ate with ease and pleasure two complete suppers—to the openly expressed admiration of Emma, the waitress.

From Project Gutenberg

I never, even at my loneliest, held a waitress or attendant in talk for any satisfaction I had in her nearness.

From Project Gutenberg

Yamba acted as cook and waitress, but after a time the work was more than she could cope with unaided.

From Project Gutenberg

Tom Chavis told me yesterday that you are interested in a waitress in Lazette.

From Project Gutenberg

If your household does not include a waitress, there is a class of small services which need to be done before each meal.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• flight attendant
• hostess
• stewardess
• waiter