Noun

(en noun)

A person employed to obtain and maintain the storage of provisions, especially food.

* 1821 June 19, ”Peregrine,” The Traveller: Letter IV'', in ''The Kaleidoscope; Or, Literary and Scientific Mirror , page 401,

It was in vain that I petitioned, appealing to our caterer , if proofs of appetite were wanting; for sick men seldom have occasion for that important person?s services.

* 1830 , , The King?s Own'', 1840, ''The Complete Works of Captain F. Marryatt , Volume I, page 335,

“I say, Mr. Cribbage ,” cried an old master?s-mate, to the caterer , who had entered shortly after the tea-kettles, and assumed his place at the end of the table, “what sort of stuff do you call this?”

* 1838 , The Southern Literary Messenger , Volume IV, page 263,

There is a caterer for the table, whose sleekness of face, rotundity of person, and general air of comfortable well-being, do great honor to the cheer he provides.

A person or company hired to provide and serve food, usually for a large group and at a location separate from where the food is prepared.

* 1979 July 23, Andrew O. Shapiro, Of Canceled Parties and the Beleaguered Teenager'', '' , page 64,

If so, you will probably sign a contract with a caterer months, maybe years, in advance and make a substantial down payment.

* 1994 , John N. Ingham, Lynne B. Feldman, Dutrieuille, Peter Albert (1838—1916) and Albert E. Dutrieuille (July 26, 1877—April 25, 1974)'', entry in ''African-American Business Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary , page 225,

From a family of French West African descent, Albert Dutrieuille was the last of the great African-American caterers in Philadelphia.

* 2008 , Zushe Yosef Blech, Kosher Food Production , page 176,

Although many hotels work with outside Kosher caterers to provide Kosher services, some have developed their own in-house Kosher catering departments.

Noun

(en noun)

A male or sometimes female attendant who or similar.

* , title=The Mirror and the Lamp

, chapter=2 citation , passage=She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid, […]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.}}

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)

, chapter=5 citation , passage=A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed.
  ‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ […] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’}}

(literally) Someone who waits for somebody or something; a person who is waiting.

(obsolete) A vessel or tray on which something is carried, as dishes, etc.; a salver.