Dumbwaiter (noun)

1. A small lift or hoist for carrying food, dishes, or other items between floors of a building, especially in a restaurant.
2. A small cart or trolley for carrying items, especially in a kitchen or restaurant.

Origin:

Early 19th century: so named because it was originally a small lift for carrying food to a higher floor in silence.

Examples:

1. The chef used the dumbwaiter to send up the dishes to the dining room.
2. The restaurant relied on the dumbwaiter to efficiently transport food from the kitchen to the diners.
3. The dumbwaiter was small, but sturdy enough to carry heavy trays of food.
4. The kitchen staff used the dumbwaiter to quickly transport dirty dishes to the dishwashing area.
5. The dumbwaiter was a convenient tool, allowing the servers to move quickly and efficiently between floors.