maître d'hôtel

noun

maî·​tre d'hô·​tel ˌmā-trə-(ˌ)dō-ˈtel 

ˌme-;

ˌmāt-dō-,

ˌmet-

plural maîtres d'hôtel ˌmā-trə-(ˌ)dō-ˈtel 

ˌme-;

ˌmāt-dō-,

ˌmet-

1

a

: majordomo

b

: headwaiter

2

: a sauce of butter, parsley, salt, pepper, and lemon juice

called also maître d'hôtel butter

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

At about 11:15, the maitre d'hotel whispered that about 30 photographers were massed outside the hotel. —People Staff, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, master of house

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1a