noun
napkin
NAP-kin/ˈnæpkɪn/
A piece of cloth or paper used to wipe the mouth and hands during a meal.
The woman gently dabs her mouth with a cloth napkin during her meal.
Etymology
The cloth root and diminutive make napkin effectively a “little tablecloth”: a small cloth for wiping the lips and hands at meals. That diminutive meaning is no longer normally felt.
In context
he finished, he took a napkin and he wiped his mouth.
More examples
- He wiped his mouth with a paper napkin.
- The waiter brought extra napkins.
- A linen napkin covered the basket of bread.
Forms
napkin · napkins
Similar words
- serviette
- Names the same item but is uncommon in American English.
- towel
- A towel generally dries hands or surfaces rather than accompanying a place setting.