server

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈsɜːvə/ (UK); /ˈsɝvɚ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is an agent noun formed from English serve + -er.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

One who serves another in any capacity: about 1380 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

An attendant at a meal is from about 1460.^[4][2] An artisan's assistant is from 1481–90.^[4][5] In tennis and other games, the player who puts the ball in play is from 1585.^[4][5] A thing used for serving food, such as a tray, is from about 1600 (1677 in the Historical Thesaurus).^[2][5] An assistant at Mass is from 1853.^[4] A shop assistant is from 1854, chiefly British.^[5] In computing, a program that gives other programs access to a resource is from 1969 in the Historical Thesaurus, and the computer itself by 1992 in Etymonline.^[5][2]

Timeline

• c. 1380 – one who serves.^[4]
• c. 1460 – an attendant at a meal.^[4]
• 1585 – in games.^[4]
• 1677 – a serving dish.^[5]
• 1853 – an assistant at Mass.^[4]
• 1969 – in computing.^[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. (computing) A computer or program that supplies data or services to others on a network.
2. A person who serves food or drink; a waiter or waitress.
3. The player who serves in a game such as tennis.
4. An implement or dish used for serving food.
5. A person who assists the priest at Mass.

Word family

• file server
• process server

Related words

• serve
• servant

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g Kay, Christian; Roberts, Jane; Samuels, Michael; Wotherspoon, Irené, eds. (2009), Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press; online edition (2024)