serviette

See also: Serviette and sèrviette

English

Etymology

From Middle English serviotis pl, from Middle French serviette.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌsɜː.viˈɛt/

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ˌsɝ.viˈɛt/

• Audio (Canada):

  (file)

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛt

Noun

serviette (plural serviettes)

1. (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.

2. (obsolete) A lazy Susan.

Synonyms

• (table napkin): napkin, table napkin

Derived terms

• serviette-ring

Translations

napkin — see napkin

French

Etymology

From servir +‎ -ette.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɛʁ.vjɛt/
• Homophone: serviettes

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

serviette f (plural serviettes)

1. towel (cloth used for wiping)

   Synonym: serviette de table

   un jeune homme vêtu d’une serviette

   a young man wearing a towel

2. napkin

   Synonyms: serviette de bain, drap de bain

   Essuie ta bouche avec ta serviette !

   Wipe your mouth with your napkin!

3. briefcase

   Synonyms: mallette, porte-documents, attaché-case

4. menstrual pad

   Synonym: serviette hygiénique

Derived terms

• mélanger les torchons et les serviettes
• rond de serviette
• serviette à mains
• serviette de bain
• serviette de douche
• serviette de plage
• serviette de table
• serviette de toilette
• serviette hygiénique
• serviette-éponge

 

Descendants

• → 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

• tampax
• cartable

Further reading

• “serviette”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Anagrams

• revêtîtes