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n.— «Many restaurants serve twice as many “covers” (that’s diners in kitchen parlance) as they do in a normal shift. That puts an amazing strain on everyone—reservationists, prep cooks, chefs, bartenders, servers—even the people who pour water, clear tables and wash dishes.» —“Dining out on Mother’s Day? Read this first” by Dave Carlson Gainesville Sun (Florida) May 10, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Brian from Lafayette, Indiana, wonders why chicken is abbreviated CHX in the restaurant industry. Using X as a substitute or shortener has a long history. Medieval scribes sometimes drew a line through the final stroke of an abbreviated word. This...
Language is always evolving, and that’s also true for American Sign Language. A century ago, the sign for “telephone” was one fist below your mouth and the other at your ear, as if you’re holding an old-fashioned candlestick...