Hostess

Pronunciation

Origin

Middle English hostesse, from Middle French hostesse, from Old French ostesce, made up of oste ("host") + -esce ("feminine marker").

Full definition of hostess

Noun

1. A female host.
   The host and hostess greeted their guests at the door.
• 2013-08-10, Lexington, Keeping the mighty honest, The Washington Post's proprietor through those turbulent Watergate days, Katharine Graham, held a double place in Washington’s hierarchy: at once regal Georgetown hostess and scrappy newshound, ready to hold the establishment to account.
2. A female innkeeper.
3. Stewardess: a woman steward on an airplane.
4. A bar hostess or bargirl, a paid, female companion offering conversation and in some cases sex.

Derived terms

• hostess trolley