chauffeur
pronunciation
How to pronounce chauffeur in British English:
UK [ˈʃəʊfə(r)]
How to pronounce chauffeur in American English:
US [ʃoʊˈfɜr]
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- Noun:
- a man paid to drive a privately owned car
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- Verb:
- drive someone in a vehicle
Word Origin
- chauffeur (n.)
- 1896, originally "a motorist," from French chauffeur, literally "stoker," operator of a steam engine, French nickname for early motorists, from chauffer "to heat," from Old French chaufer "to heat, warm up; to become hot" (see chafe). The first motor-cars were steam-driven. Sense of "professional or paid driver of a private motor car" is from 1902. The '95 Duryea wagon, which won the Chicago contest Fall, was exhibited at the Detroit Horse Show last week. Charles B. King, treasurer of the American Motor League, acted as "chauffeur," as the French say. ["The Horseless Age," April 1896]
- chauffeur (v.)
- 1902, from chauffeur (n.). Related: Chauffeured; chauffeuring.
Example
- 1. Marla borrowed the same chauffeur and company car .
- 2. A loyal chauffeur likes him .
- 3. These staff members include her former chauffeur , nurse and butler .
- 4. The fight club mechanic guy is holding the cadillac open chauffeur style for me .
- 5. We hire a car with a chauffeur to escape the city at weekends .