trestle table
1
6.2
- noun
- /ˈtrɛsəl ˈteɪbəl/
:
mesa de caballete
- The place was nearly empty; only a few booths were occupied by morose students, and the long trestle tables in the middle were empty.
- a long trestle table
- set up a trestle table
- an old trestle table
Examples
-
Under the shaggy arms of a cedar, long trestle tables had been set up, garlanded with flowers.
Fiction book (2000) -
Near the center of the room, there was a trestle table piled high with glossy apples.
Fiction book (1999) -
Dad, that trestle table you have out in back would be perfect.
-
Azzie moved the trestle table out of the way.
Fiction book (1991) -
A sign by a long trestle table: "KOFFEE & DONUTS."
Fiction book (1998) -
There is a trestle table laden with Greek food, from stews to salad, buffet-style.
Fiction book (1998) -
An audience of thirty or so gathers at the trestle tables to watch a slow-motion replay on a huge television monitor.
Fiction book (1996) -
He followed his nose to one of the long trestle tables where the meat from the pitchfork fondue was being carved.
Fiction book (1998) -
Meals were served at rough trestle tables, liquefied concoctions exclusively composed of local fruits, royal jelly, and vitamin supplements.
Fiction book (1992) -
His guests were drinking coffee and devouring cake at a trestle table in the garden.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A flat-topped piece of furniture with legs used for eating or working
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a table supported by trestles' is directly and compositionally derived from 'trestle' (a supporting structure with sloping legs) + 'table' (flat-topped furniture). This noun–noun descriptive compound follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The noun trestle table comes from a simple picture: a flat table top resting on wooden trestles, small frame supports you can lift and move. So it means 'a table you can easily set up, move, or take down'.