An informal American shortening of 'maître d'hôtel,' the head waiter or manager of the dining room in a restaurant. The full French title literally means 'master of the house.' In casual American usage, the term has been clipped to just 'maître d'' (pronounced 'may-truh dee') and refers to the person who oversees reservations, greets guests, and manages floor staff. Typically associated with upscale dining establishments, the maître d' is often the first point of contact for diners.
She slipped the maître d' a twenty and was immediately shown to the best table in the house.
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(informal, chiefly, _, US) A headwaiter.
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