Noun
hash slinger (plural hash slingers)
- (chiefly US, idiomatic) A cook or food server in a cheap restaurant, especially one who is discourteous or inattentive to customers.
1904 April 8, “The Evolution and Passing of the Popular Fifteen Cent Lunch”, in Weekly News-Review, Indiana, USA, retrieved 5 December 2010, page 1:At first the spread was not very elaborate. . . . Originally it consisted of a chunk of well greased sole leather served hot, two boiled potatoes, a cup of muddy coffee, a bold of bread, a grunt or growl from the hash slinger, and, in warm weather, a few flies.
1929 June 21, “Says Customer Has Desire To Tip Waitresses”, in San Jose Evening News, retrieved 5 December 2010, page 6:The ‘hash-slinger’ type of waitress of former years has disappeared from the great majority of restaurants.
2008 June 17, Nick Canepa, “Tiger, Torrey triumph”, in San Diego Union-Tribune, retrieved 5 December 2010, page A1:San Diego still has trouble making up its mind as to which it wants to be—a hash-slinger or a gourmet chef.