finger bowl

American  

noun

1. a small bowl to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table.

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finger bowl British  

noun

1. a small bowl filled with water for rinsing the fingers at the table after a meal

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Etymology

Origin of finger bowl

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

And while a missing finger bowl won’t seriously mar anyone’s evening, missing Daniel’s cheese cart might.

From New York Times • Jul. 23, 2013

Are you now, or have you ever been, a teen-ager perplexed by an array of silverware or by the problem of what to do with a finger bowl?

From Time Magazine Archive

I remove the finger bowl and doily and John puts a glass saucer and a little bowl on the plate.

From Time Magazine Archive

I take a hand bath in the finger bowl and go back to work.

From Time Magazine Archive

A maid brought them a silver finger bowl and filled it out of a beautiful spouting golden jug, then drew a polished table to their side.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer