croupier

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a casino employee who manages a gaming table, handles bets, and pays winnings

   The croupier spun the roulette wheel after all bets had been placed.

2. 2
   noun

   historical: an assistant chairperson seated at the lower end of a formal dinner table

   The club appointed a croupier to help the chair conduct the crowded dinner.

Simplified etymology

Croupier was adopted in the early 18th century from French cropier, meaning “pillion rider” or “rider on the croup.” In early English use it meant a person who stood behind a gambler to give advice.

Borrowed from French croupier, originally a person positioned behind another, from croupe, 'rump or rear.' The word was applied to an assistant at a gaming table and developed into the modern casino occupation.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary