dumbwaiter

[duhm-wey-ter] Origin

dumb·wait·er

[duhm-wey-ter]
noun
1.
a small elevator, manually or electrically operated, consisting typically of a box with shelves, used in apartment houses, restaurants, and large private dwellings for moving dishes, food, garbage, etc., between floors.
2.
British.
a.
an auxiliary serving table.
b.
a serving stand with tiers of revolving shelves.
c.
a serving cart.

Origin:
1745–55; dumb + waiter
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Dumbwaiter is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
Collins
World English Dictionary
dumbwaiter (ˈdʌmˌweɪtə)
 
n
1.  (Brit)
 a.  a stand placed near a dining table to hold food
 b.  US and Canadian name: lazy Susan a revolving circular tray placed on a table to hold food
2.  a lift for carrying food, rubbish, etc, between floors

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

dumbwaiter
1749, an article of furniture, from dumb + waiter (apparently because it serves as a waiter but is silent). As a movable platform for passing dishes, etc., up and down from one room (especially a basement kitchen) to another, from 1847.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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