different between caterer vs waiter

English

Etymology

From cater +? -er.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?ke?t????/

Noun

caterer (plural caterers)

1. A person employed to obtain and maintain the storage of provisions, especially food.
   • 1821 June 19, ”Peregrine,” The Traveller: Letter IV, in The Kaleidoscope; Or, Literary and Scientific Mirror, page 401,

     It was in vain that I petitioned, appealing to our caterer, if proofs of appetite were wanting; for sick men seldom have occasion for that important person?s services.

   • 1830, Frederick Marryat, The King?s Own, 1840, The Complete Works of Captain F. Marryatt, Volume I, page 335,

     “I say, Mr. Cribbage,” cried an old master?s-mate, to the caterer, who had entered shortly after the tea-kettles, and assumed his place at the end of the table, “what sort of stuff do you call this?”

   • 1838, The Southern Literary Messenger, Volume IV, page 263,

     There is a caterer for the table, whose sleekness of face, rotundity of person, and general air of comfortable well-being, do great honor to the cheer he provides.

2. A person or company hired to provide and serve food, usually for a large group and at a location separate from where the food is prepared.
   • 1979 July 23, Andrew O. Shapiro, Of Canceled Parties and the Beleaguered Teenager, New York, page 64,

     If so, you will probably sign a contract with a caterer months, maybe years, in advance and make a substantial down payment.

   • 1994, John N. Ingham, Lynne B. Feldman, Dutrieuille, Peter Albert (1838—1916) and Albert E. Dutrieuille (July 26, 1877—April 25, 1974), entry in African-American Business Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary, page 225,

     From a family of French West African descent, Albert Dutrieuille was the last of the great African-American caterers in Philadelphia.

Synonyms

• (person responsible for provisions): cater (obsolete), manciple, obsonator (obsolete), steward
• (person or company hired to provide food):

Related terms

• cater
• catering

Translations

See also

• provisioner

Anagrams

• Terrace, reacter, recrate, retrace, terrace

English

Etymology

Late 14th century, "attendant, watchman," agent noun from the verb wait +? -er. Sense of "servant who waits at tables" is from late 15th century, originally in reference to household servants; in reference to inns, eating houses, etc., it is attested from 1660s. Feminine form waitress first recorded 1834.

The London Stock Exchange sense harks back to the early days of trading in coffee-shops.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?we?t?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?we?t?/
• Rhymes: -e?t?(?)
• Hyphenation: wait?er

Noun

waiter (plural waiters, feminine waitress)

1. A male or female attendant who serves customers at their tables in a restaurant, café or similar.

2. Someone who waits for somebody or something; a person who is waiting.
   • 2013, Siciliani Luigi, Borowitz Michael, Moran Valerie, OECD Health Policy Studies: Waiting Time Policies in the Health Sector

     However, the NTPF also contained implicit negative incentives for the public sector by offering alternative private sector treatment for the longest waiters at no extra cost to patients or no penalty to public providers.

3. A person working as an attendant at the London Stock Exchange.
4. (obsolete) A vessel or tray on which something is carried, as dishes, etc.; a salver. (See etymology of dumbwaiter.)
5. (obsolete) A custom house officer; a tide waiter.
6. (obsolete) A watchman.

Derived terms

• coast waiter
• dumbwaiter
• landwaiter
• tide waiter

Related terms

• wait
• waitress

Descendants

• ? Japanese: ????? (u?t?)

Translations

See also

• barista
• bartender
• maître d'
• server

References

Old French

Verb

waiter

1. (Old Northern French, Anglo-Norman) Alternative form of gaitier

Conjugation

This verb conjugates as a first-group verb ending in -er. The forms that would normally end in *-ts, *-tt are modified to z, t. Old French conjugation varies significantly by date and by region. The following conjugation should be treated as a guide.

References

• Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IX^e au XV^e siècle (1881) (waiter)