hostler

WOTD – 13 January 2008    

English

Alternative forms

• ostler

Etymology

Syncopated form of hosteler, from Middle French hostiler, from Old French hostelier, from Latin hostilarius, from hospitalarius, from hospitale "inn", from hospitālis "hospitable", from hospes "host, guest". Both hostler and its alternate form "ostler" originally meant simply "innkeeper", and acquired a specific association with horses in the second half of the 14th century.

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈɒs.lə/, /ˈhɒs.lə/, X-SAMPA: /"Qs.l@/, /"hQs.l@/
• (US) IPA: /ˈhɑːs.lɚ/, /ˈɑːs.lɚ/, X-SAMPA: /"hAs.l@`/, /"Qs.l@`/

• Audio (US)

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  Audio (US)

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Noun

hostler (plural hostlers)

1. A person employed at an inn, hostelry, or stable to look after horses; a groom
2. (by extension) A person employed to care for a locomotive or other large engine.

Synonyms

• groom

Related terms

• hostelry

Translations

person at an inn who looks after horses

• Dutch: staljongen (nl) m
• Polish: stajenny m
• Russian: конюх (ru) (kón'uχ)

• Swedish: världshusvärd c
• Turkish: seyis (tr)

person employed to care for a locomotive

• Polish: parowozowy m
• Russian: ремонтный слесарь (remóntny slésar')

• Swedish: underhållsarbetare c
• Turkish: makinist (tr)

See also

• hosteler

Anagrams

• holster