ˈtide-ˌwaiter
1. A customs officer who awaited the arrival of ships (formerly coming in with the tide), and boarded them to prevent evasion of the custom-house regulations. Now Hist.
| 1699 Farquhar Constant Couple i. i, These tidewaiters and surveyors plague us more with the French wines, than the war did with the French privateers. 1754 Richardson Grandison (1781) I. xxxv. 247 That I shall get employment on the Keys, or as a tide-waiter extraordinary. 1821 J. Smyth Pract. of Customs 3 Upon the receipt of the Warrants, the Landing-waiter is to give an order to the Tide⁓waiter on board the Ship, without which no Goods can be permitted to be unladen. 1876 Smiles Sc. Natur. xiii. 267 He was willing to be a police officer, a tidewaiter, or anything that would bring in a proper maintenance. |
2. fig. One who waits for a favourable season.
| 1841 Miall in Nonconf. I. 249 The tide-waiters and time-servers of reform are evidently at a discount. 1901 Daily News 15 Feb. 6/5 Political tidewaiters, whose loyalty..may ultimately be reconciled with high salaried posts. |
Hence ˈtide-ˌwaitership, the office of a tide-waiter.
| 1855 Thackeray Newcomes xi, He would ask the minister for a tide-waitership for him. 1866 Lowell Presid. on Stump Prose Wks. 1890 V. 265 His own chance of reëlection, or that of some fourth cousin to a tidewaitership. |