Hos"tler (?), n. [OE. hosteler, osteler, innkeeper, OF. hostelier, F. hotelier. See Hostel, and cf. Hospitaler, Hosteler.]
1.
An innkeeper. [Obs.] See Hosteler.
2.
The person who has the care of horses at an inn or stable; hence, any one who takes care of horses; a groom; -- so called because the innkeeper formerly attended to this duty in person.
3. Railroad
The person who takes charge of a locomotive when it is left by the engineer after a trip.
© Webster 1913.