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CaterEnglish (en) · Unnumbered etymologySource text
Occupational surname, from cater, obsolete form of caterer.
Original Wiktionary entry and references ↗caterEnglish (en) · Etymology 1Source text
From Middle English catour (“acater, provisioner”), aphetic form of acatour (“acater”), from Old French acater (“to buy, to purchase”). Equivalent to cate + -er.
Original Wiktionary entry and references ↗caterEnglish (en) · Etymology 2Source text
Probably ultimately from French quatre (“four”), possibly via cater (“change-ringing”), although Liberman argues for a derivation from a North Germanic prefix meaning "crooked, angled, clumsy" from which he also derives cater-cousin and, via Norse, Old Irish cittach (“left-handed, awkward”). He finds this more likely than extension of the dice and change-ringing term cater as an adverb, given the likely cognates in other Germanic languages. Caterpillar and caterwaul are unrelated, being derived from cognates to cat, but may have influenced the pronunciation of Liberman's proposed earlier *cate- or undergone similar sound changes.
Original Wiktionary entry and references ↗caterEnglish (en) · Etymology 3Source text
From French quatre (“four”). Doublet of cuatro.
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