Skip to main content
serviette

serviette

1 5.0
A small cloth or paper used at meals to wipe your mouth and protect your clothes
  • noun
  • /ˌsɜrviˈɛt/
  • UK
translation icon : servilleta
  • And the old man, with his serviette tucked into his collar, set down the carving knife and put a hand on her arm.

Examples

  • You can use your own cutlery, serviettes and crockery.

  • She cut the sandwiches into quarters, packed them neatly in shredded lettuce, and wrapped them in a damp serviette so that they would not dry out.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • His linen serviette is left standing on the table throughout the meal.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Therefore, when going for a professional shot of food, you should have any other items like serviettes, silverware, and glasses ready first.

    Blog text (17)
  • You can use your own cutlery, serviettes and crockery.

  • These tables are cluttered with empty Giraffe Beer bottles and crumpled serviettes.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • She set her knife and fork on the table and lifted the serviette out of her lap.

  • Jane choked on her turbot at this and had to hold her serviette to her lips to stifle her coughing.

Synonyms

napkin
vsserviette
168 1.0

A small piece of cloth or paper used at meals to wipe the mouth and hands

is the same meaning but expressed with a different word form
dinner napkin
vsserviette
1 1.0

A large piece of cloth or paper people use at dinner to protect clothes and wipe the mouth and hands

is smaller and used generally at meals rather than for one specific meal
table napkin
vsserviette
1.0

A small piece of cloth or paper used at meals to wipe your mouth and hands

is the same meaning but expressed with a different term

How Formal

table linen
2 2.2
serviette
  • UK
1 5.0
napkin
168 1.0

Surface Forms

serviette singular
serviettes plural
napkins plural
napkin singular

Etymology

The word serviette comes from French and joins servir 'to serve' with the small ending -ette 'little', so it meant a 'little thing for serving'. That's why a serviette is a small napkin used at meals to wipe your mouth and protect your clothes.