commissionaire

n. [ F. commissionnaire. Cf. Commissioner. ] 1. One intrusted with a commission, now only a small commission, as an errand; esp., an attendant or subordinate employee in a public office, hotel, or the like. The commissionaire familiar to European travelers performs miscellaneous services as a light porter, messenger, solicitor for hotels, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. One of a corps of pensioned soldiers, as in London, employed as doorkeepers, messengers, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. a uniformed doorman. [ British ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]