Main Entry:

som·me·lier

Pronunciation:

\ˌsə-məl-ˈyā\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural sommeliers \-ˈyā(z)\

Etymology:

French, from Middle French soumelier official charged with transportation of supplies, from Old French, pack animal driver, probably alteration of *sommerier, from somier pack animal, from Medieval Latin saugmarius, from Late Latin sagma packsaddle — more at sumpter

Date:

1829

: a waiter in a restaurant who has charge of wines and their service : a wine steward