Hypertext Webster Gateway: "hostler"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Hostler \Hos"tler\, n. [OE. hosteler, osteler, innkeeper, OF.
hostelier, F. h[^o]telier. See {Hostel}, and cf.
{Hospitaler}, {Hosteler}.]
1. An innkeeper. [Obs.] See {Hosteler}.
2. The person who has the care of horses at an inn or stable;
hence, any one who takes care of horses; a groom; -- so
called because the innkeeper formerly attended to this
duty in person.
3. (Railroad) The person who takes charge of a locomotive
when it is left by the engineer after a trip.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
hostler
n : someone employed in a stable to take care of the horses
[syn: {stableman}, {stableboy}, {groom}, {ostler}]
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