chauffeur
UK: ˈʃəʊ.fər | US: ʃoʊˈfɝː
n. a person employed to drive a private or hired car
vt. to drive someone as a professional driver
chauffeur = chauf<heat> + eur<agent suffix>
- chauf (from Old French chaufer, meaning "to heat")
Originally referred to stokers who heated steam engines in early automobiles. - eur (agent noun suffix in French, equivalent to English "-er")
Denotes a person performing an action (e.g., masseur, entrepreneur).
Etymology Origin:
The word chauffeur traces back to the era of steam-powered vehicles in 19th-century France. Early drivers were required to stoke (heat) coal-fired engines, hence the term chauffeur (literally "heater"). As automobiles evolved, the role shifted to driving, but the name persisted. The suffix -eur marks it as a French agent noun, akin to English "-er" (e.g., "driver").
The hotel arranged a chauffeur to drive us to the airport.
She works as a chauffeur for a luxury car service.
He was chauffeured around the city in a black limousine.
The celebrity’s chauffeur waited outside the restaurant.
In the 1920s, wealthy families often employed a live-in chauffeur.