serviette
English
editEtymology
editFrom Middle English serviotis pl, from Middle French serviette.
Pronunciation
edit- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌsɜː.vi.ˈɛt/
Audio (UK): (file) - (Canada) IPA(key): /ˌsɝ.vi.ˈɛt/
Audio (Canada): (file) Audio (General Australian): (file) - Rhymes: -ɛt
Noun
editserviette (plural serviettes)
- (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth) A table napkin, now especially a paper one. [From late 15th c.]
- 1887, “A Member of the Aristocracy”, Manners and Rules of Good Society; Or Solecisms to Be Avoided, 1999 facsimile edition, Angus&Robertson, page 116,
- She should unfold her serviette and place it on her lap. It is immaterial whether she places the bread on the right or left-hand side of the cover when taking it from the serviette.
- A gentleman should do the same with his serviette and bread, placing the one across his knees, and the other at his right or left hand.
- 1914, Arnold Bennett, The Price of Love, 2005, Echo Library, page 40,
- And then, when the meal finally did begin Mrs. Maldon′s serviette and silver serviette-ring had vanished.
- 1955 October 25, The Official Gazette of the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya, page 1145:
- Nature of goods.—Toilet paper, paper handkerchiefs, paper towels, paper serviettes and paper covers for lavatory seats, none being medicated.
- 2004, Tracey Dalton, The Food and Beverage Handbook, Orchard Publishing, South Africa, page 36,
- There is a wide variety of serviette folds, but serviettes themselves have two basic functions:
- • To provide the guest with a means of wiping his/her hands and mouth, and
- • To make the restaurant look attractive.
- 2006, K.E. Silva, A Simple Distance, Akashic Books, US, page 90,
- I told them to put the paper serviettes out on the table, and look, they′ve put out the cloth napkins! Here, take these back to the kitchen and bring me the stack of paper serviettes.
- 2007, Sarina Singh, South India, Lonely Planet, page 83:
- Avoid the temptation to lick your fingers – a finger bowl filled with warm water is usually placed on the table to wash your fingers at the end of the meal and serviettes should be on hand to dry them.
- 1887, “A Member of the Aristocracy”, Manners and Rules of Good Society; Or Solecisms to Be Avoided, 1999 facsimile edition, Angus&Robertson, page 116,
- (obsolete) A lazy Susan.
Synonyms
edit- (table napkin): napkin, table napkin
Derived terms
editTranslations
editnapkin — see napkin
French
editEtymology
editPronunciation
edit- IPA(key): /sɛʁ.vjɛt/
- Homophone: serviettes
Audio: (file)
Noun
editserviette f (plural serviettes)
- towel (cloth used for wiping)
- Synonym: serviette de table
- un jeune homme vêtu d’une serviette
- a young man wearing a towel
- napkin
- Synonyms: serviette de bain, drap de bain
- Essuie ta bouche avec ta serviette !
- Wipe your mouth with your napkin!
- briefcase
- Synonyms: mallette, porte-documents, attaché-case
- menstrual pad
- Synonym: serviette hygiénique
Derived terms
editDescendants
edit- → Bavarian: Serviettn
- → Deori: Serviette
- → Dutch: servet
- → English: serviette
- → Greek: σερβιέτα (serviéta)
- → Lithuanian: servetėlė
- → Indonesian: serbet
- → Polish: serwetka
- → Yiddish: סערוועטקע (servetke)
- → Romanian: șervet
- → Spanish: servilleta
See also
editFurther reading
edit- “serviette”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams
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