janitor
(ˈdʒænɪtə(r))
[a. L. jānitor, f. jānua door, entrance: with agent-suffix -tor.]
1. a. A door-keeper, porter, ostiary.
| c 1630 Risdon Surv. Devon §44 (1810) 50 One John, sir⁓named Janitor, of his office, who..was to keep the prison. 1686 Plot Staffordsh. 429 The Keys for S{supt} Peter, reputed the Ianitor of heaven. 1746 Smollett Advice 34 The gaunt, growling janitor of hell. 1762 C. Parkin Topogr. Freebridge 144 He is to lay down the cap and cloak, and give it to the janitor to keep. 1876 Farrar Marlb. Serm. v. 47 Even the heathen saw that toil is the janitor at the gate of virtue. |
b. A caretaker of a building, esp. a school, who has charge of the cleaning, heating, etc., of it. Also attrib.
| 1708 C. Morthland Acct. Govt. Church of Scotl. 18 When a Student enters the University [of Edinburgh] he must pay Half a Crown to the Porter or Janitor and Seven Pence to his Servant. 1835 Dr. Neill in J. J. Audubon Ornith. Biogr. III. 313 A cock-heron..had been..kept for some weeks in a cellar in the old College, and then presented to me by the late Mr John Wilson, the janitor. 1868 Mich. Agric. Rep. VII. 22 Expenses for wood, furniture, janitor work, &c. 1884 H. Butterworth Zigzag Journeys Western States 50 He was employed merely as janitor at Yule [school]. 1952 Manch. Guardian Weekly 4 Dec. 13 The Civil Service now protects janitors and chauffeurs. 1954 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) 7 Apr., The Education Committee..had recommended that a janitor be appointed, and that he be responsible for all janitorial and cleaning work at the school, including maintenance of the gardens. 1961 Evening Standard 12 Sept. 19/1 Janitor required for building in W.1. area. 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 13 Feb. 31/6 (Advt.), Prestige offices, full janitor services. |
† 2. An usher in a school. (Cf. doctor n. 1 b.)
| 1584 in Grant Burgh Sch. Scotl. App. 543. 1876 Ibid. ii. xiv. 491 In 1661 the doctor or Janitor of the grammar School of Cupar had from every bairn at the School his meat day about, or 2s. daily. |
Hence ˈjanitoress, ˈjanitress = janitrix; janiˈtorial a., of or pertaining to a janitor; ˈjanitorship, the office of janitor.
| 1806 Lamb Lett. (1888) I. 240 The gray-haired Janitress at my door. 1866 J. Fisher Where shall we get Meat 121, I..told the janitoress that I did not think there was a Protestant church in the world into which a person would not be permitted to enter and worship. 1885 Chicago Advance 3 Dec. 779 This lesson in janitorial science. 1893 Columbus (O.) Dispatch 12 July, The janitorships heretofore have largely been given to men who were known as political hustlers. 1894 Daily Tel. 18 Oct. 5/7 Restored to consciousness by the janitress of the house. |