UNDERSTANDING OF NOMENCLATURES, PHRASES & SAYING

This lecture is to make you familiar with the usage of words in

the Hospitality sector. It is seen that many of us, to whom
English Language is not a mother tongue, speak and use words
in our daily life of which, though we are aware of its utility, we
have little knowledge as to why it is written or named in such a
fashion. The understanding of each such word spoken gives us
a greater sense of realisation and therefore proper
understanding and utilisation.

We will go through the entire gamut (the entire range) of the

words and phrases that we come across in the course of our
career with the Hospitality industry and better comprehend the
utility and importance of such words/ phrases and the entire
message or practice behind such usage.

First, let me clear the meaning of the title to this lecture:

The word ‘Nomenclature’ stands for a system of words used to

name things in a particular discipline and therefore an attempt
is being made to make you understand why a certain discipline
is named in the manner it is and not otherwise. However, we
will also at the same time veer away from proper
nomenclatures to address ourselves to other words and
phrases that are very commonly used in this industry in an
effort to clarify each such usage.

At the end of this lecture I do hope that you would be a little

more knowledgeable about usages and would be able to
effectively use it to your advantage. This, also, accepts that
there are personnel among us who understand the language
very well and does not need to be told, yet being a member of
the team, it devolves upon them to go along and help us in the
process of understanding.
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Hotel A T International,
Ranchi
Everybody is familiar with the word Hotel, and may have learnt
its definition, not once but many times, and therefore I will not
delve on it. Please also understand that this process also
involves the study of the sources and development of words,
the history of words, known as ‘Etymology’ – “a study of true
sense of speech, oration, discourse, words” – (derived from the
Greek word “etumologia”).

– 1826, from Fr. à la carte, lit. "by the card"; in other

words, "ordered by separate items." Distinguished
A la carte from a table d'hôte, meal served at a fixed, inclusive
price.
– Individually priced dish
– A menu having individual dishes listed with separate
prices

Accommodat – "room and provisions, lodging," c.1600, now usually pl.

(accommodations) and chiefly U.S.; from
ion Fr. accommodation, from
L.accommodationem (nom. accommodatio), noun of
action from accommodare . Meaning "appliance,
anything which affords aid" is from 1610s; that of "act
of accommodating" is from 1640s.
– Living quarters provided for public convenience
Bar – "tavern," 1592, from the bars of the barrier or counter
over which drinks or food were served to customers
(see bar (1)).Barmaid is from 1772; bar-tender is 1836,
Amer.Eng.; barfly "habitual drunkard" is from 1910.
– A room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are
served over a counter
Bell Boy – Someone employed as an errand boy and luggage
carrier around hotels

Beverage – Any liquid suitable for drinking

– "may I take your beverage order?"

Breakfast – 1463, from break (v.) + fast (n.). Cf. Fr. déjeuner "to
breakfast," from L. dis-jejunare "to break the fast." The
verb is recorded from 1679. The Sp. almuerzo"lunch,"
but formerly and still locally "breakfast," is from
L. admorsus, pp. of admordere "to bite into,"
from ad- "to" + mordere "to bite." Words for
"breakfast" tend over time to shift in meaning toward
"lunch;" cf. Fr. déjeuner "breakfast," later "lunch"
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Hotel A T International,
Ranchi
 (equivalent of Sp. desayuno "breakfast"), both from
V.L. *disieiunare"to breakfast," from
L. dis- + ieiunare "fast."
– The first meal of the day (usually in the morning)
Brunch – 1896, British student slang, merger of breakfast and
lunch. “ To be fashionable nowadays we must ‘brunch’.
Truly an excellent portmanteau word, introduced by Mr
Guy Beringer, and indicating a combined breakfast and
lunch- 1896
– Combination breakfast and lunch; usually served in late
morning
Coffee Shop – A small restaurant where drinks and snacks are sold

Communicati – The activity of communicating; the activity of

conveying information
on – Something that is communicated by or to or between
people or groups
– late 14c., from O.Fr. communicacion, from
L. communicationem (nom. communicatio),
from communicare "to share, divide out; impart, inform;
join, unite, participate in," lit. "to make common,"
from communis (see common)
Compliment – expressing praise or admiration; given free of charge.
– mid-17c., "conveying a compliment,"
ary from compliment. In later use loosely meaning "free of
charge." Comp:- "complimentary ticket," 1885, short
for complimentary. Meaning "nonpaying guest" is
attested by 1930s; generalized to "anything given free"
by 1960s. As a verb, by 1980s.
Concierge – In hotels, a concierge assists guests with various tasks
like making restaurant reservations, arranging
for spa services, recommending nightclubs, booking
transportation (limousines, airplanes, boats, etc.),
procurement of tickets to special events and assisting
with various travel arrangements and tours of local
attractions. In upscale establishments, a concierge is
often expected to "achieve the impossible", dealing
with any request a guest may have, no matter how
strange, relying on an extensive list of contacts with
local merchants and service providers.
– A French caretaker of apartments or a hotel; lives on
the premises and oversees people entering and leaving
and handles mail and acts as janitor or porter
– 1646, from Fr., probably from V.L. *conservius, from
L. conservus "fellow slave," from com- "with"
+ servius "slave."
Continental – 1818 as a purely geographical term, from continent +

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Hotel A T International,
Ranchi
 adj. ending -al. In ref. to the European mainland (as
opposed to Great Britain), recorded from
1760.Continental breakfast (the kind eaten on the
continent as opposed to the kind eaten in Britain) is
from 1911.
Decor – Decoration consisting of the layout and furnishings of a
livable interior
– 1897, from Fr. décor, from L. decor "beauty, elegance,"
from decere
Disabled – Disability is defined as "A physical or mental
impairment which has a substantial and long term
person adverse effect on [the person’s] ability to carry out
normal day to day activities", and therefore a person
who has disability.
Discotheque – borrowed 1954 from Fr. discothèque "nightclub with
recorded music for dancing," also "record library,"
borrowed 1932 from It.discoteca "record collection,
record library," coined 1927 from disco "phonograph
record" + -teca "collection," probably on model
of biblioteca "library."
– is an entertainment venue or club with recorded
music played by Disc jockeys through a PA system,
rather than an on-stage band.
– Prior to the discothèque, most bars and nightclubs used
live bands as entertainment.
Good – How do you do? (literally "how is your health?), good
morning, good afternoon, and good evening have been
Morning
English greetings since the mid 15th century."
– It means – “ I wish you a good morning-( in other words,
may your morning be good).”

Greeting – an acknowledgment or expression of good will

(especially on meeting)
– Good Morning/ Good Evening/ Good Night

Guest – A visitor to whom hospitality is extended

– A customer of a hotel or restaurant etc.

Hospitality – Kindness in welcoming guests or strangers

– cordial reception
– late 14c., "act of being hospitable," from
O.Fr. hospitalité, from L. hospitalitem (gen. hospitalitas)
"friendliness to guests," from hospes (gen. hospitis)
"guest"

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Hotel A T International,
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Hotel – A building where travellers can pay for lodging and
meals and other services
– 1644, "public official residence," from Fr. hôtel, from
O.Fr. hostel "a lodging," from M.L. hospitale "inn"
(see hostel). Modern sense of "an inn of the better
sort" is first recorded 1765. Hotelier is a 1905
borrowing of Fr. hôtelier "hotelkeeper."

Housekeepin – The work of cleaning and running a house/ hotel

– A department for undertaking the task upkeep of the
g
hotel rooms and public areas

How do you – An expression of greeting.

– This greeting was once commonplace, especially
do?
amongst the English upper classes, but is now heard
less often and is largely restricted to quite formal
occasions. The phrase became one of the touchstones
in the separation of the U from the non-U, i.e. the
separation of the upper classes from the rest. The U
contingent had napkins, lavatories and greeted people
with 'how do you do'; the non-U had serviettes, toilets
and greeted with 'hello'. The proper response to 'How
do you do?' was a reciprocal 'How do you do?''.
– How do you do' has its essence in the early meaning of
the verb 'do', which has been used since the 14th
century to mean 'prosper; thrive'. 'How do you' is
clearly the exact 16th century equivalent of our present
day 'how are you?'. It was specifically asking after
someone's health and a reply in kind would have been
expected
–

Janitor – 1584, "an usher in a school, doorkeeper," from

L. janua "door," from janus "arched passageway"
(see Janus) + agent suffix -tor. Meaning "caretaker of a
building" first recorded 1708.
– Someone employed to clean and maintain a building -
A custodian
Lip Service – Almost invariably used in the expression "to pay lip
service to someone/something".
– "Insincere respect, expressed with the lips but not
acted upon. 'This people draweth nigh unto me with
their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their
heart is far from me.' Matthew 15:8."

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Hotel A T International,
Ranchi
Lunch – A midday meal
– modern sense of "mid-day repast" is 1829, shortened
form of luncheon. The verb meaning "to take to lunch"
is attested from 1823.
– Luncheon- 1580, nonechenche "light mid-day meal," from
none "noon”+ schench "drink," from O.E. scenc, from
scencan "pour out." Altered by northern Eng.
dial. lunch "hunk of bread or cheese" (1590), which probably is
from Sp. lonja "a slice," lit. "loin." When it first
appeared, luncheon meant "thick piece, hunk;" sense of "light
repast between mealtimes" is from 1652, esp. in ref. to an early
afternoon meal eaten by those who have a
noontime dinner. Type of restaurant called a luncheonette is
attested from 1924, Amer.Eng. Slang phraseout to
lunch "insane, stupid, clueless" first recorded 1955, on notion
of being "not there."
Maintenance – c.1369, "bearing, deportment,” from O. Fr.
maintenance, from maintenir (see maintain).
Meaning "action of upholding or keeping in being" is
from 1413. "Action of providing a person with the
necessities of life" is from 1389.
– Activity involved in maintaining something in good
working order
– A Department involved in the maintaining of an
establishment
‘Page’ Boy – Liveried boy or man employed to run errands, attend to
a door, etc. (in hotels, airports, etc.) summon, esp. by
making an announcement.
– "youth, lad, boy of the lower orders," c.1300, originally
also "youth preparing to be a knight," from
O.Fr. page, possibly via It. paggio, from
M.L. pagius "servant," perhaps ult. from
Gk. paidion "boy, lad," dim. of pais (gen. paidos)
"child;" but some sources consider this unlikely and
suggest instead L. pagus "countryside," in sense of
"boy from the rural regions" (see pagan). Meaning
"youth employed as a personal attendant to a person of
rank" is first recorded c.1460; this was transf. from late
18c. to boys who did personal errands in hotels, clubs,
etc., also in U.S. legislatures. The verb (1904) is from
the notion of "to send a page after"
someone. Pager "device that emits a signal when
activated by a telephone call" is first attested 1968.

Relations – Mutual dealings or connections or communications

among person/s or groups

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Hotel A T International,
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 – "act of receiving" is recorded from circa.1489, from
L. Receptionem (nom. receptio) "a receiving,"
from receptus, pp. of recipere (see receive). Sense of
"ceremonial gathering" is 1882, from French.
Reception – The manner in which something/ someone is greeted-
("she did not expect the cold reception she received
from her superiors")
– A formal party of people; as after a wedding,
– The act of receiving
– A counter (as in a hotel) where guests are received

Registration – An act of registering

– Record in writing; enter into a book of names or events
or transactions
– Late 14c., from M.L. registrum, alteration of
L.L. regesta "list, matters recorded," from L. regesta,
neuter pl. of regestus, pp. of regerere "to record," lit.
"to carry back," from re- "back" + gerere "carry, bear."
Some senses influenced by association with
L. regere "to rule." The verb is attested from late 14c.,
from O.Fr.registrer (13c.). Cash register is from 1875,
from earlier meaning "device by which data is
automatically recorded" (1830)

Reservations – The written record or promise of an arrangement by

which accommodations are secured in advance
– The act of reserving (a place or passage) or engaging
the services of (a person or group)
– c.1380, "act of reserving," from M.Fr. reservation, from
L.L. reservationem (nom. reservatio), from
L. reservatus, pp. of reservare.
– Meaning "act or fact of engaging a room, a seat, etc." is
from 1904, originally Amer.Eng.
– In a Hotel this is a Department associated with the
above actions.

Restaurant – 1827, from Fr. restaurant "a restaurant" (said to have

been used in Paris c.1765 by Boulanger), originally
"food that restores," noun use of prp. of restaurer "to
restore or refresh," from
O.Fr. restorer (see restore). Restaurateur is 1796, from
Fr.restaurateur, agent noun from restaurer "to restore,"
on model of L.L. restaurator "restorer."
– A public premise where people go to eat

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Hotel A T International,
Ranchi
Security – From the word secure -1533, "without care," from
L. securus "without care, safe," from *se
cura, from se "free from" (see secret) + cura "care"
(see cure). The verb is from 1593. Meaning "firmly
fixed" (of material things) is from 1841, on notion of
"affording grounds for confidence." Security is attested
from 1432, from
L. securitas, fromsecurus; phrase security blanket in
figurative sense is attested from 1971, in ref. to the
crib blanket carried by the character Linus in the
"Peanuts" comic strip (1956).
– The state of being free from danger or injury
– Freedom from anxiety or fear
– A department responsible for the security of the
institution's property and workers
Spa – A health resort near a spring or at the seaside
– A fashionable hotel usually in a resort area
– A place of business with equipment and facilities for
exercising and improving physical fitness
– Synonym – Health Club
– "medicinal or mineral spring," 1626, from name of
health resort in eastern Belgium, known since 14c.,
that featured mineral springs believed to have curative
properties. The place name is from
Walloon espa "spring, fountain."

Suite – Apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms

used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
– 1673, "train of followers or attendants," from
Fr. suite, from O.Fr. suite "act of following, attendance"
(see suit). The meanings "set of instrumental
compositions" (1682), "connected set of rooms" (1716),
and "set of furniture" (1805) were borrowed from Fr. or
re-spelled from suit on the Fr. model.

Table d’hôte – Meal from a set Menu at a fixed price

– n. 'table of the host'; restaurant menu with limited
choice of dishes at fixed price.
– "common table for guests at a hotel," from Fr., lit.
"table of the host."

Tips – A relatively small amount of money given for services

rendered (as by a waiter)

Uniform – Clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a

particular group as a means of identification

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Hotel A T International,
Ranchi
You’re – OED: " d. you are (or you're) welcome: a polite formula
Welcome used in response to an expression of thanks.
– O.E. wilcuma, exclamation of kindly greeting, from
earlier wilcuma (n.) "welcome guest," lit. "one whose
coming is in accord with another's will,"
from willa "pleasure, desire, choice" (see will (v.))
+ cuma "guest," related to cuman (see come). Cf.
O.H.G.willicomo, M.Du. wellecome. Meaning
"entertainment or public reception as a greeting" is
recorded from 1530. You're welcome as a formulaic
response to thank you is attested from 1907. Welcome
mat first recorded 1951; welcome wagon is attested
from 1961.
Dinner – The main meal of the day served in the evening or at
midday.,"dinner will be at 8";
– c.1300, from O.Fr. disner, originally "breakfast," later
"lunch," noun use of infinitive disner (see dine). Always
used in Eng. for the main meal of the day; shift from
midday to evening began with the fashionable classes.
Mitre – Bevel the edges of, to make a mitre joint
– Joint that forms a corner; usually both sides are
bevelled at a 45-degree angle to form a 90-degree
corner

The above is not the end of this subject nor of learning more,
but a pause in the course of our updating of our knowledge
which I hope people and students will take interest in and
develop into being a professional with deeper understanding.

Ranjit Dutta
Vice President
Hotel AT International
Ranchi, JH
India

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Hotel A T International,
Ranchi