sommelier
UK[ˌsɒm.əlˈjeɪ]US[ˌsɑː.məlˈjeɪ]
n
A wine waiter, especially one in a restaurant who is in charge of selecting and serving wine.
Etymology
The word 'sommelier' entered English directly from French in the 19th century, where it originally meant a butler or an officer in charge of provisions. Its journey goes further back to Old French 'sommerier' or 'saumalier', meaning a pack-animal driver, derived from 'somme' (a pack or burden), which itself originates from the Late Latin 'sagma', meaning a packsaddle, borrowed from Greek 'sagma'. The semantic evolution from a driver of pack animals carrying supplies to a specialist in charge of wine in a cellar and finally to a refined wine steward illustrates a fascinating shift from logistical labor to a role of expertise and luxury.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from French. It does not contain separable morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
The sommelier recommended an excellent Burgundy to pair with the duck.
She trained for years to become a certified master sommelier.
We asked the sommelier for his opinion on the vintage.