Hostler

1827 drawing of an ostler at Keston Cross
Ostler at Margam, 1818

A hostler (/ˈhɒslər/ or /ˈɒslər/) or ostler /ˈɒslər/ was traditionally a groom or stableman who was employed in a stable to take care of horses, usually at an inn, in the era of transportation by horse or horse-drawn carriage.[1] In the twentieth century the word came to be used in the railroad industry for a type of train driver in rail yards with switcher locomotives[1] or a type of truck driver in similar work with terminal tractors.

  1. ^ a b "Hostler – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary". Merriam-webster.com. 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2013-03-12.