- omnibus
- 1829, "four-wheeled public vehicle with seats for passengers," from Fr. (voiture) omnibus "(carriage) for all, common (conveyance)," from L. omnibus "for all," dat. pl. of omnis "all" (see omni-). Introduced by Laffitte in Paris, 1820. In ref. to legislation, the word is recorded from 1842. Meaning "man or boy who assists a waiter at a restaurant" is attested from 1888 (cf. busboy).