waitress

American  

[wey-tris] / ˈweɪ trɪs /

noun

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

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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 British  

/ ˈweɪtrɪs /

noun

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

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verb

1. (intr) to act as a waitress

Gender

See -ess, -person.

Etymology

Origin of waitress

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

Example Sentences

She studied hard, she drove the beater truck, and she saved the money from her after-school waitressing gig to fund her escape.

From Literature

But it’s about the history for me, and the family that is built there, from the waitresses to the hosts.

From Los Angeles Times

One waitress from Pyongyang told AFP she had been in China for over six years without returning home.

From Barron's

And not sitting down at tables while you’re having drinks and waitresses are coming by.

From Los Angeles Times

Donna Motsinger said she was working as a waitress more than 50 years ago when the performer began to target her.

From Barron's

Related Words

• flight attendant
• hostess
• stewardess
• waiter