A dumbwaiter was a lift used to carry objects rather than people. They were used in homes primarily for food.

While prisoners in the House of the Dragon, George Litefoot suggested to Henry Gordon Jago that they could travel down a dumbwaiter to access they dining room and escape. When the exited the lift, they instead found themselves in the central room and were recaptured by men of the Tong of the Black Scorpion. The dumbwaiter was locked to prevent a second attempt. (TV: The Talons of Weng-Chiang)

Strax made use of the dumbwaiter, which he referred to as the "vertical food transportation system", at 13 Paternoster Row while temporarily demoted to downstairs for the remainder of a diplomatic feast. (AUDIO: Dining with Death)