cafeteria

Etymology

(Mid 19th or 20th century) American Spanish cafetería (“coffeehouse”), from cafetera (“coffee maker”), from French cafetière, from café, from Ottoman Turkish قهوه (kahve) (Turkish kahve), from Arabic قَهْوَة (qahwa, “coffee”). Doublet of cafetière.

noun

1. (chiefly US, Canada) A restaurant in which customers select their food at a counter then carry it on a tray to a table to eat.
2. (chiefly US, Canada) A dining area in an institution where meals may be purchased (as above), provided, or brought in from elsewhere.