hostler

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: host=ler

CIDE DICTIONARY

hostler, n. [OE. hosteler, osteler, innkeeper, OF. hostelier, F. hôtelier. See Hostel, and cf. Hospitaler, Hosteler.].

•  An innkeeper. [Obs.] See Hosteler.  [1913 Webster]
•  The person who has the care of horses at an inn or stable; hence, any one who takes care of horses; a groom; -- so called because the innkeeper formerly attended to this duty in person.  [1913 Webster]
•  The person who takes charge of a locomotive when it is left by the engineer after a trip.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

hostler, n.
1 = OSTLER.
2 US a person in charge of vehicles or machines, esp. railway engines, when they are not in use.

Etymology

ME f. hosteler (as OSTLER)

THESAURUS

hostler

breaker, breeder, broncobuster, buckaroo, cattleman, cow keeper, cowman, dairy farmer, dairyman, equerry, farrier, grazier, groom, horseshoer, rancher, ranchero, ranchman, sheepman, stableboy, stableman, stock raiser, stockbreeder, stockkeeper, stockman, tamer, trainer

ROGET THESAURUS

hostler

Servant

N servant, subject, liegeman, servant, retainer, follower, henchman, servitor, domestic, menial, help, lady help, employe, attache, official, retinue, suite, cortege, staff, court, attendant, squire, usher, page, donzel, footboy, train bearer, cup bearer, waiter, lapster, butler, livery servant, lackey, footman, flunky, flunkey, valet, valet de chambre, equerry, groom, jockey, hostler, ostler, tiger, orderly, messenger, cad, gillie, herdsman, swineherd, barkeeper, bartender, bell boy, boots, boy, counterjumper, khansamah, khansaman, khitmutgar, yardman, bailiff, castellan, seneschal, chamberlain, major-domo, groom of the chambers, secretary, under secretary, assistant secretary, clerk, subsidiary, agent, subaltern, underling, understrapper, man, maid, maidservant, handmaid, confidente, lady's maid, abigail, soubrette, amah, biddy, nurse, bonne, ayah, nursemaid, nursery maid, house maid, parlor maid, waiting maid, chamber maid, kitchen maid, scullery maid, femme de chambre, femme fille, camarista, chef de cuisine, cordon bleu, cook, scullion, Cinderella, potwalloper, maid of all work, servant of all work, laundress, bedmaker, journeyman, charwoman, bearer, chokra, gyp (Cambridge), hamal, scout (Oxford), serf, vassal, slave, negro, helot, bondsman, bondswoman, bondslave, ame damnee, odalisque, ryot, adscriptus gleboe, villian, villein, beadsman, bedesman, sizar, pensioner, pensionary, client, dependant, dependent, hanger on, satellite, parasite, led captain, protege, ward, hireling, mercenary, puppet, tool, creature, badge of slavery, bonds, in the train of, in one's pay, in one's employ, at one's call, in bonds.