Dictionary

Zephyrette en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈzɛfə(ˌ)ɹɛt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌzɛfəˈɹɛt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From zephyr (“light wind from the west”) + -ette (suffix forming nouns meaning the female equivalent of something). Zephyr is derived from Latin zephyrus, Zephyrus (“personification of the west wind”), from Ancient Greek Ζέφῠρος (Zéphŭros, “personification of the west wind”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃yebʰ- (“to enter, penetrate; to copulate”). Sense 1 (“on-board hostess”) is derived from the California Zephyr train.

Meanings

1. (historical) An on-board hostess on the California Zephyr train, which originally operated between 1949 and 1970.
   • A good part of the train's personality lay in the Zephyrette, an on-board factotum who, like an airline stewardess, was a mix of hostess, paramedic, tour guide, secretary, nanny, security guard, purser, public relations agent and ombudswoman. 1995, Henry Kisor, Zephyr: Tracking a Dream Across America, New York, N.Y.: Times Books/Random House, →ISBN; republished Holbrook, Mass.: Adams Publishing Group, 1995, →ISBN, page 18:
   • Zephyrettes were a fixture on the CZ right to the last day of service on March 22, 1970. 1997, Mike Schafer, Joe Welsh, “Triumvirate Triumph: The California Zephyr”, in Classic American Streamliners, Oscola, Wis.: MBI Publishing Company, →ISBN, image caption, page 68:
   • "Zephyr and Ezekiel, huh?" Tommy had the courage to ask, shaking their hands. The two wooly-headed, intellectual-looking twins laughed. "Well, our dad's name was Zechariah and our mom worked as a Zephyrette on the California Zephyr passenger train," Ezekiel explained. "So I guess you could say they liked the letter z." 2009 October 6, Sean Phelan, Coming of Age, Bloomington, Ind.: iUniverse, →ISBN, page 246:
   • The Zephyrette then takes the reservations of the Pullman passengers. 1952, David L. Paden, Problems and Economics of Dining Car Service (unpublished M.B.A. dissertation), Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University, →OCLC, page 163:
2. A lightweight print fabric used for women's dresses.
   • I'm going to select one of those beautiful fast-color Zephyrette patterns for my 'prize' dress. 1908 June, “The Prize Dress [advertisement]”, in James M. Irvine, editor, The Fruit-grower: An Illustrated Monthly Magazine for Progressive American Farmers, volume 19, number 6, St. Joseph, Mo.: The Fruit-grower, →OCLC, page 22 (yearly page 266), column 2:
   • McCutcheon's Stocks of Ginghams, Linens, Shirtings, Novelty Voiles, Zephyrette, Japanese Crepes, and White materials are always abundant and varied. 1921 February 5, “McCutcheon’s Smart New Fabrics for Spring and Summer Frocks [advertisement]”, in Hamilton Holt, editor, The Independent, volume 105, number 3757, New York, N.Y.: Independent Corporation, […], →OCLC, page 147:
   • United States Rubber Co. has introduced a lightweight plastic Zephyrette raincoat for women, girls and children. 1953, “Plastic Raincoat”, in Industrial Sports, volume 14, Chicago, Ill.: Allegheny Pub. Co., →OCLC, page 6, column 2:

Forms

wikipedia: Feather Canyon