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commis

[kaw-mee; English kuh-mee]
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noun, plural com·mis [kaw-mee; English kuh-meez] /kɔˈmi; English kəˈmiz/. French.
  1. an assistant, especially to a chef.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for commis

Historical Examples

  • I owe the commis, vhat you call it, fifteen cents for leedle tobac.

    Broke

    Edwin A. Brown

  • Commis′sioner, one who holds a commission to perform some business: a member of a commission; Commis′sionership.

  • Linschoten was "commis" on board, a post which included both the employment of supercargo and that of owners' commissioner.

  • The rules are, however, generally enforced with great civility; but the commis was not civil.

  • To-day it is ignored by all save the commis voyageur and a comparatively small number of the genuine French touristes.

British Dictionary definitions for commis

commis

noun plural -mis
  1. an agent or deputy
adjective
  1. (of a waiter or chef) apprentice

Word Origin

C16 (meaning: deputy): from French, from commettre to employ, commit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012