maître d'
Americanplural
maître d's-
a headwaiter.
-
a steward or butler.
-
the owner or manager of a hotel.
Etymology
Origin of maître d'
First recorded in 1815–25; shortening of maître d'hôtel
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The maître d’ was so rude and they called security on us,” says Bernad.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026
“A lot of times, you won’t even see the dog” until you seat the owners, said Ally Gallegos, a former maître d’ at an upscale neighborhood restaurant in the West Village.
From New York Times • May 16, 2024
"I don't really see him as Fred Sirieix the maître d', I don't see him as anything other than my dad."
From BBC • Feb. 14, 2024
He knows seemingly every staff member, from the maître d’ to the waiters.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 12, 2023
Sandi turned to see the maître d' heading in their direction with a tall, dressed-up woman, and behind her, a towering, preoccupied-looking man.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
