Definition of the word cocktail waiter

The term "cocktail waiter" originated during the peak of cocktail culture in the 1920s and 1930s. At that time, restaurants and bars began serving mixed drinks, such as martinis and Manhattan cocktails, instead of just beer and liquor. The word "cocktail" itself is derived from the French term "coquetail," which meant a mixture of pills, spices, and alcohol taken as a health tonic. In England, the word "cocktail" was used as a slang term for any mixture of spirits and liquids, and by the 1860s it had evolved into a term used to describe a mixed drink served in a glass with ice. As the popularity of cocktails grew, so did the demand for waiters who could serve them efficiently. These waiters would carry a tray with several cocktails, their arms outstretched like a cock's wings, giving them the endearing name of "cocktail waiters." This term was used both to describe their role in serving cocktails and the way they presented themselves while doing it. Today, the term "cocktail waiter" is still used in many places, particularly in the United States, where it is a common job title in bars and restaurants. The role of the cocktail waiter has expanded to include not just serving cocktails but also taking orders for food and other drinks, preparing bills, and ensuring customer satisfaction. However, the name remains a nod to the feminine-coded image of the waiter and a remnant of the era when cocktails were considered a fad rather than a staple of drinking culture.