napkin

[nap-kin]

noun

1. a small piece of cloth or paper, usually square, for use in wiping the lips and fingers and to protect the clothes while eating.

2. sanitary napkin.

3. Chiefly British.,  a diaper.

4. Scot. and North England.,  a handkerchief.

5. Scot.,  a kerchief or neckerchief.

napkin

/ ˈnæpkɪn /

noun

1. Also called: table napkin. a usually square piece of cloth or paper used while eating to protect the clothes, wipe the mouth, etc; serviette

2. rare,  a similar piece of cloth used for example as a handkerchief or headscarf

3. a more formal name for nappy 1

4. a less common term for sanitary towel

Word History and Origins

Origin of napkin¹

1350–1400; Middle English, equivalent to nape tablecloth (< Middle French nappe < Latin mappa napkin) + -kin; map

Word History and Origins

Origin of napkin¹

C15: from Old French, from nape tablecloth, from Latin mappa small cloth, towel; see _map

Example Sentences

It’s a little like eating at those restaurants where you find your napkin refolded whenever you come back from the restroom — at some point, such determined pampering becomes oppressive.

From Salon

It’s important for parents to make sure that the food they pack is accessible and that they have the utensils and napkins that they need, the dietitians said.

From Los Angeles Times

Yu scribbled the design on a napkin during his flight to Bangkok to meet Chatchanin, keeping it simple enough to be achievable — at least in theory — with only a single excavator.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite my “talk to no one” intention on this idle Wednesday, I found myself distracted by a man sitting at the edge of the bar across from me, writing feverishly on a napkin.

From Los Angeles Times

On top of the table her purse flopped open and from its mouth spilled curling checkbooks, loose cash, half a muffin in a napkin and bottles of Chinese herbs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cloth 
• towel