A woman who brings food and drinks to people at a restaurant.
This word comes from 'wait' (to serve) plus '-ress' (meaning a woman who does this job).
A waitress is like a helpful friend at a restaurant who brings you your favorite foods! She takes your order, brings you yummy meals, and makes sure you have everything you need - just like when you go out to eat with your family.
The feminine form 'waitress' emerged in the 19th century as service work became feminized and lower-paid. The default male 'waiter' retained professional connotations while 'waitress' became marked as female and subordinate.
Use 'server' or 'wait staff' as gender-neutral alternatives, or use the person's actual job title. If referring to a specific person who identifies as a waitress, that's appropriate; otherwise, neutral terms are clearer.
["server","wait staff","front-of-house staff"]
Women workers in service roles have historically fought for wage equality and dignity; the Union for Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) has championed service worker rights since the early 1900s.
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