drop leaf

American  

noun

Furniture.

1. a hinged leaf attached to the end or side of a table that can be raised to extend the tabletop or folded vertically downward when not in use.

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drop leaf British  

noun

1. 1. a hinged flap on a table that can be raised and supported by a bracket or additional pivoted leg to extend the surface

   2. ( as modifier )

      a drop-leaf table

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Other Word Forms

• drop-leaf adjective

Etymology

Origin of drop leaf

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

They spent money on off-black thin brick Cle tiles and a custom butcher block drop leaf countertop that can be folded to save space, or extended for dining.

From Los Angeles Times

Furniture that belonged to the family includes Wilson’s crib, a rocking chair and a drop leaf table that has been with the house since it was occupied by its first minister, the Rev. Benjamin Mosby Smith.

From Washington Post

When I shut my eyes, I can see the old desk from Bob’s parents, a drop leaf from the 1940s that housed our family documents, medical records, report cards, old photos, and diaries.

From Time

There were two worn iron beds, four chairs, an old dresser, and a drop- leaf table on which they ate.

From Literature

A table with a drop leaf gets bigger, for example, or cabinet doors open and close.

From Forbes