dumbwaiter
dumbwaiter Lexical Profile
dumbwaiter Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small freight elevator or lift intended to carry food, dishes, laundry, or other objects rather than people, typically moving between the floors of a building.
"The historic mansion still featured a functioning manual dumbwaiter that connected the basement kitchen to the formal dining room above."
A historical type of tiered serving stand or table placed near a dining table to hold food or utensils, allowing guests to serve themselves without the presence of servants.
"The museum displayed an antique mahogany dumbwaiter that was used by Thomas Jefferson to ensure private conversations during his dinner parties."
Word Origin & Etymology
Originated in the mid-18th century to describe a portable serving stand that acted as a silent ('dumb') servant, allowing guests to converse without staff present. By the 1840s, the term was applied to the small mechanical lifts used to transport food between floors.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.