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Glite Dictionary
napery

napery

1 9.9
Cloth items like tablecloths and napkins used when eating
  • noun
  • /ˈneɪpəri/
  • Archaic
translation icon : textiles de mesa
  • She neatly folded the napery and placed it on the table before the guests arrived.

Examples

  • The napery was a wonderful damask in one of Karen's signature wheat colors, with a vase of lilies in just the same shade.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Sunshine fell across the breakfast table, onto lilies and pink napery.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The restaurant's elegant napery added a touch of sophistication to the dining experience.

  • During the dinner party, the hostess showed off her beautiful napery, which matched the decor perfectly.

Synonyms

tablecloth
vsnapery
47 1.0

A cloth that covers a table during a meal

is any dining cloth set rather than a single covering piece
table linen
vsnapery
2 2.2

Cloth items like napkins and tablecloths used to cover a dining table

is an older or specialized collective name for such dining cloths
serviette
vsnapery
  • UK
1 5.0

A small cloth or paper used at meals to wipe your mouth and protect your clothes

is a general term for dining cloth items, not just a small wiping piece

Surface Forms

napery singular
naperies plural

Morphology

napery = napkin (semi-transparent) = nap + ery

The suffix '-ery' signals a collective or class (as in 'cutlery'), but the base 'nap' meaning 'table linen' is archaic/rare so learners will more readily associate it with 'napkin' than with a productive modern base.

Etymology

The word napery comes from an old word meaning 'cloth' and is the same root as napkin. So napery means the cloths used at the table, like napkins and tablecloths, which helps you remember its modern meaning.