hostess

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: host=ess

CIDE DICTIONARY

hostess, n. [OE. hostesse, ostesse. See Host a landlord.].

•  A female host; a woman who hospitably entertains guests at her house.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  A woman who entertains guests for compensation; a female innkeeper.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

hostess, n.
1 a woman who receives or entertains a guest.
2 a woman employed to welcome and entertain customers at a nightclub etc.
3 a stewardess on an aircraft, train, etc. (air hostess).

Etymology

ME f. OF (h)ostesse (as HOST(2))