Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A table napkin.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A napkin.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A table napkin.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to cover the lap in order to protect clothing

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, from Old French serviete, perhaps from servir, to serve; see serve.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French serviette.

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Examples

  • A serviette is a paper napkin Alice Band … why would you think it’s a sanitary towel?!

    permission 2008

  • Perhaps Cook could still be successfully de-poshed, taught to say the word "serviette" and to look a bit less like a Back to the Future-style preview of Prince William and Kate Middleton's louche ski-holidaying middle son.

    Now England have won the Ashes, it's time to focus on being liked | Barney Ronay 2011

  • The barista immediately whipped up the suggestion of a croissant, and I was proud to understand when the madam asked for a "serviette".

    Archive 2004-05-01 2004

  • The barista immediately whipped up the suggestion of a croissant, and I was proud to understand when the madam asked for a "serviette".

    Inconvenience? 2004

  • A creature who can't even stand people who say "serviette" instead of "table-napkin"! '

    The Convert 1907

  • A creature who can't even stand people who say "serviette" instead of "table-napkin"! '

    The Convert Elizabeth Robins 1907

  • He carefully tucked a linen serviette under his chin to catch any falling bits of flaky pastry.

    Exit the Actress Priya Parmar 2011

  • I chewed my lip and did nervous origami with the serviette, folding it into the shape of Brazil.

    My Other Mother is a Ferrari Sally Houtman 2012

  • I wiped my hands on the serviette, being careful to avoid São Paulo, then shuffled through the pile.

    My Other Mother is a Ferrari Sally Houtman 2012

  • He carefully tucked a linen serviette under his chin to catch any falling bits of flaky pastry.

    Exit the Actress Priya Parmar 2011

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