Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus.) an air hostess.

1952		Aus. Women’s Wkly 17 Dec. 20/3: You’ll get even more used to it when you’re a hostie.
1954		Cairns Post (Qld) 16 Dec. 7/9: Now that I have flown for the first time, I want more than ever to be a ‘hostie’.
1960		‘Nino Culotta’ Cop This Lot 27: That hostie’s a slashin’ line.
1974–5		B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 121: No worries, hostie. I’m think of me poor little mum.
1985		B. Humphries Traveller’s Tool 27: A New Zealand hostie once thought it was a picture of my mum.
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl.
1995		P. Vautin Turn It Up! 152: A lovely hostie approached my seat, ‘Mr. Vautin, just looking at you makes me think we might need a forklift to get you off the plane’.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl.
2005		P. Corris Saving Billie 157: ‘Never mind, those nice hosties on Thai Air’ll look after you’.