Serviette

//ˌsɜː.viˈɛt// noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A table napkin, now especially a paper one. Canada, Ireland, UK

    "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."

  2. 2
    a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to cover the lap in order to protect clothing wordnet
  3. 3
    A lazy Susan. obsolete

Synonyms

All synonyms
napkintable napkinbroomcleaningdevicelazy susan

Example

More examples

"I took a serviette and wiped my fingers."

Etymology

From Middle English serviotis pl, from Middle French serviette.

Related phrases

serviette-ringlazy susan

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.