serviette

Etymology

Borrowed from French serviette.

noun

1. (UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) A table napkin, now especially a paper one.
   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.
   1914, Arnold Bennett, The Price of Love, 2005, Echo Library, page 40, And then, when the meal finally did begin Mrs. Maldon′s serviette and silver serviette-ring had vanished.
   Nature of goods.—Toilet paper, paper handkerchiefs, paper towels, paper serviettes and paper covers for lavatory seats, none being medicated. October 25 1955, The Official Gazette of the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya, page 1145
   • To provide the guest with a means of wiping his/her hands and mouth, and • To make the restaurant look attractive. 2004, Tracey Dalton, The Food and Beverage Handbook, Orchard Publishing, South Africa, page 36, There is a wide variety of serviette folds, but serviettes themselves have two basic functions
   2006, K.E. Silva, A Simple Distance, Akashic Books, US, page 90, I told them to put the paper serviettes out on the table, and look, they′ve put out the cloth napkins! Here, take these back to the kitchen and bring me the stack of paper serviettes.
   Avoid the temptation to lick your fingers – a finger bowl filled with warm water is usually placed on the table to wash your fingers at the end of the meal and serviettes should be on hand to dry them. 2007, Sarina Singh, South India, Lonely Planet, page 83
2. (obsolete) a lazy Susan