/sum'euhl yay"/ ; Fr. /saw meuh lyay"/ , n. , pl. sommeliers /sum'euhl yayz"/ ; Fr. /saw meuh lyay"/ .
a waiter, as in a club or restaurant, who is in charge of wines.
[ 1920-25; sommerier, deriv. of sommier one charged with arranging transportation, equiv. to somme burden ( sagma horse load ságma covering, pack saddle) + -ier -IER 2 ]