serviette

[ sur-vee-et ]

/ ˌsɜr viˈɛt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR serviette ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Chiefly British.

a table napkin.

RELATED WORDS

cloth, towel, wipe, doily

Nearby words

Origin of serviette

1480–90; < Middle French, equivalent to servi(r) to serve + -ette -ette; for the formation, cf. oubliette

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for serviette

And then, when the meal finally did begin Mrs. Maldon's serviette and silver serviette-ring had vanished.
The Price of Love|Arnold Bennett
"I don't know as I do," he said, spreading a serviette on a corner of the table, and not looking at her.
The Rainbow|D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
Beth folded her serviette slowly while he was speaking, and, when he stopped, she rose from the table.
The Beth Book|Sarah Grand
Throwing his serviette on the disordered table, he pushed back his chair and stood up.
Leonora|Arnold Bennett

"We should really have invited the Señorita to join us," said Silvestre, as he spread his serviette over his knees.
The Kidnapped President|Guy Boothby

British Dictionary definitions for serviette

serviette

/ (ˌsɜːvɪˈɛt) /

noun

mainly British a small square of cloth or paper used while eating to protect the clothes, wipe the mouth and hands, etc

Word Origin for serviette

C15: from Old French, from servir to serve; formed on the model of oubliette

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for serviette

serviette

"table napkin," late 15c., from Middle French serviette "napkin, towel" (14c.), of uncertain origin, perhaps from past participle of servir "to serve" (see serve (v.)). Primarily Scottish at first; re-introduced from French 1818.