napkin
napkin Lexical Profile
napkin Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A square piece of cloth or paper used at a meal to wipe the fingers or lips and to protect garments from spills.
"She carefully unfolded the linen napkin and placed it on her lap before the soup was served."
British A piece of absorbent material wrapped around a baby's bottom to absorb bodily waste.
"The new parents stocked up on reusable cotton napkins before the baby arrived."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British and Commonwealth English, 'napkin' historically referred to a baby's diaper (often shortened to 'nappy'), whereas in North American English, the term is used exclusively for a mealtime cloth.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Late Middle English: from Old French 'nappe' meaning 'tablecloth' (ultimately from Latin 'mappa' meaning 'sheet' or 'cloth'), combined with the English diminutive suffix '-kin'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.